Sunday 1 November 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 21858Dangerous driving; criminal damage; no insurance; driving without a licence · Co. Laois · 3 Jun 2022

Man sentenced for dangerous driving after smashing M7 barrier in Laois

Shane Monks, a 30-year-old man from Roscrea, Co Tipperary, admitted to dangerous driving, criminal damage, no insurance and driving without a licence after his car smashed through the Midlink Toll Plaza barrier on the M7 in Laois. The car had stopped short of a Garda checkpoint at 1.30pm on 3 June 2022 before accelerating away, and Gardaí pursued it before it was found abandoned. He was arrested, questioned and admitted the offences. On 19 March 2023, Judge Andrew Cody sentenced him to three months for dangerous driving and three months for no insurance, fined him €1,000 for each of those offences and €200 for criminal damage and driving without a licence, and disqualified him from driving for 15 years.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced19 Mar
    2 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • A car stopped short of a Garda checkpoint on the M7 in Laois at 1.30pm on 3 June 2022, then accelerated away at speed while Gardaí pursued it.
  • The car drove through the Midlink Toll Plaza barrier causing it to fall down and was later found abandoned with the defendant's identification inside.
Where
The incident occurred at a Garda checkpoint on the M7 motorway in Laois.
When
The incident occurred at 1.30pm on 3 June 2022.
Investigation
Shane Monks was arrested, questioned and admitted the offences.
Charges
Shane Monks, 30, of Roscrea, Co Tipperary, admitted to dangerous driving, criminal damage, no insurance and driving without a licence.
In court
Judge Andrew Cody sentenced the defendant on 19 March 2023.
Sentence
  • He received three-month sentences for dangerous driving and no insurance, was fined €1,000 for each, and was disqualified from driving for 15 years.
  • He was fined €200 for criminal damage to the Midlink Toll Plaza and €200 for driving without a licence, with a 15-year disqualification.
  • Recognisance was fixed in case of appeal with a condition that the defendant not drive if he appeals.
Other details
  • The defendant had 22 previous convictions and it was his fifth offence for no insurance.
  • The defendant was addicted to cocaine and had planned to pay a drug debt with the car.
30 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatShane Monks, 30, of 24 Limerick Street, Roscrea, Co Tipperary, admitted to dangerous driving, criminal damage and having no insurance (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whatThe car stopped short of the checkpoint then accelerated away at speed (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whatThe car drove through the toll plaza barrier causing it to fall down while Gardaí pursued it (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whatThe car accelerated away at speed after stopping short of the checkpoint. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatThe car drove through the toll plaza barrier causing it to fall down. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whereThe incident occurred at a Garda checkpoint on the M7 motorway in Laois (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whereThe car stopped short of a garda checkpoint on the M7 in Laois. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whenThe incident occurred on 3 June 2022 at 1.30pm (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whenThe incident occurred at 1.30pm on 3 June 2022. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • investigationThe defendant was arrested, questioned, and admitted the offence (leinsterexpress.ie, offalyexpress.ie)
  • investigationGardaí pursued the car. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • chargeShane Monks, 30, of Roscrea, Co Tipperary, admitted to dangerous driving, criminal damage and having no insurance. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • sentenceJudge Andrew Cody imposed a three-month sentence for dangerous driving (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • sentenceThe defendant was fined €1,000 and disqualified from driving for 15 years for dangerous driving (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • sentenceThe defendant was given a three-month sentence for having no insurance (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • sentenceThe defendant was fined €1,000 and disqualified for 15 years for no insurance (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • sentenceThe defendant was fined €200 for criminal damage to the Midlink Toll Plaza with a 15-year disqualification (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • sentenceThe defendant was fined €200 for driving without a licence (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • sentenceJudge Cody fixed recognisance in case of appeal with a condition that the defendant not drive if he appeals (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • sentenceJudge Andrew Cody gave a three-month sentence for dangerous driving. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • sentenceHe was fined €1,000 and disqualified from driving for 15 years for dangerous driving. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • sentenceHe received a three-month sentence for having no insurance. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • sentenceHe was disqualified for 15 years and fined €1,000 for no insurance. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • sentenceHe was fined €200 for criminal damage to the Midlink Toll Plaza with a 15-year disqualification. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • sentenceHe was fined €200 for driving without a licence. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • sentenceRecognisance was fixed in case of appeal with a condition that the defendant not drive if he appeals. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherThe defendant had 22 previous convictions (leinsterexpress.ie, offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherThe defendant had been addicted to cocaine and planned to pay a drug debt with the car (leinsterexpress.ie, offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherThe defendant was holding down a job and supporting his partner (leinsterexpress.ie, offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherIt was the defendant's fifth offence for no insurance (leinsterexpress.ie, offalyexpress.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 19 Mar2023
    Sentencedoffalyexpress.ie, its first report
    Motorist in Midlands jailed after smashing through motorway barrier with gardai in pursuit

    Sentencing report: Monks received three-month sentences for dangerous driving and no insurance, 15-year driving disqualification, and fines of €1,000, €200, and €200 for the respective offences. His 22 previous convictions and cocaine addiction were noted.

    convicted, Shane Monks, 30, male, named, irish (judged from name)Shane Monks
  2. 19 Mar2023
    Sentencedleinsterexpress.ie, first report
    Drove through Laois motorway barrier with gardai in pursuit

    Sentencing details: three-month sentences for dangerous driving and no insurance, 15-year driving disqualification, fines of €1,000 and €200, and recognisance in case of appeal with a no-driving condition.

    convicted, Shane Monks, 30, male, named, irish (judged from name)Shane Monks