Friday 30 October 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. 13836Drink driving · Co. Laois · 18 Feb 2024

Romanian man disqualified and fined over drink-driving in Portlaoise

Alexandru Epurean, a 28-year-old Romanian national from Portlaoise, was accused of drink-driving on 18 February 2024 at about 8.20pm, when his car was stopped at Portlaoise Plaza at Junction 17 on the M7 in Laois after it was parked in a disabled spot without a disc. He was arrested and gave a breath reading of 28mgs per 100mls, above the 22mgs limit. A court report published on 2 or 3 May 2025 said his solicitor told the court he was pleading guilty. Judge Fay disqualified him from driving for six months and imposed a €100 fine.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced2 May
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Alexandru Epurean, a 28-year-old Romanian national from Portlaoise, was accused of drink-driving.
Where
The car was stopped at Portlaoise Plaza at Junction 17 on the M7 in Portlaoise, County Laois.
When
  • The incident happened on 18 February 2024 at about 8.20pm.
  • The sentencing was reported on 2 May 2025 in the tracker entry and on 3 May 2025 in the article byline.
Cause
Gardaí approached the car after it was parked in a disabled parking spot without a disc.
Investigation
The driver was arrested and gave a breath reading of 28mgs per 100mls, against a legal limit of 22mgs.
In court
Defence solicitor Philip Meagher said the client was pleading guilty.
Sentence
  • Judge Fay disqualified the driver from driving for six months.
  • Judge Fay imposed a €100 fine.
Other details
  • Enquiries found 15 penalty points recorded on three dummy licences created for his foreign licence, and said he should have been disqualified.
  • The driver had no previous convictions.
Charges
Gardaí did not prosecute the driver for being disqualified.
12 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatAlexandru Epurean was accused of drink-driving in Portlaoise. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whereThe car was stopped at Portlaoise Plaza at Junction 17 after parking in a disabled spot without a disc. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whenThe incident happened at 8.20pm on the date in question. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • investigationThe driver was arrested and gave a breath sample reading of 28mgs per 100mls. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • courtDefence solicitor Philip Meagher said the client was pleading guilty. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • sentenceJudge Fay disqualified the driver from driving for six months. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • sentenceJudge Fay imposed a €100 fine. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherEnquiries showed the driver had 15 penalty points and should have been disqualified. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherThe penalty points were recorded on three separate dummy licences created for his foreign licence. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherGardaí did not prosecute the driver for being disqualified. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherThe driver had no previous convictions. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherThe legal limit was 22mgs and the driver recorded 28mgs. (leinsterexpress.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 2 May2025
    Sentencedleinsterexpress.ie, first report
    Laois court hears of ‘extraordinary’ foreign licence penalty points system

    Court report on the sentencing. It adds that the driver had 15 penalty points recorded on three dummy licences created for his foreign licence, that he had no previous convictions, and that his blood-alcohol reading was 28mgs against a limit of 22mgs.

    convicted, Alexandru Epurean, 28, male, Romanian, named, non-irishAlexandru Epurean