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. 15849Dangerous driving · Co. Laois · 28 May 2019

Roscrea man jailed for dangerous driving at 227kph in Laois

On 28 May 2019, a 33-year-old man named in reports as Robert Matieska was caught driving a dangerously defective BMW at 227 kph in a 100 km/h zone at Ballytarsna, Borris-in-Ossory, Laois, and gave a garda a middle-finger gesture before speeding away. A garda using a speed gun detected the car, which was later found in a Roscrea car park with its engine still warm. He denied dangerous driving and driving without insurance, and at Portlaoise District Court a transcript from a 25 March court sitting was ordered sent to gardaí over a legal aid application. The latest development, reported in October 2024, is that he was jailed for six months with a further six months suspended for two years, disqualified from driving for 15 years and fined a total of €7,500, with recognisance fixed in case of appeal.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced9 Oct
    3 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
A man was caught driving a dangerously defective BMW at 227 kph in a 100 km/h zone in Laois.
Where
The offence is alleged to have taken place at Ballytarsna, Borris-in-Ossory, Laois.
When
The offence is alleged to have taken place on 28 May 2019.
Cause
A garda using a speed gun detected the car travelling at 227 kph in the 100 km/h zone.
Investigation
  • The garda tried to follow the car, which disappeared, and later found it in a Roscrea car park with its engine still warm.
  • A PSV inspection found the car dangerously defective, with worn rear tyres.
  • A transcript of a 25 March court sitting was ordered sent to the Garda Superintendent at Portlaoise for investigation over a legal aid application.
Other details
The driver gave the garda a middle-finger gesture before speeding from the scene.
Charges
The defendant, of Roscrea, Co Tipperary, denied dangerous driving and driving without insurance.
In court
  • The judge at Portlaoise District Court described the driving as lethal and said the defendant showed incredible recklessness.
  • The judge said the speed was not far off the highest he had come across in court.
  • The garda said the defendant had 24 previous convictions, including two for no insurance and one for dangerous driving.
Sentence
  • The defendant was jailed for six months, with a further six months suspended for two years.
  • The defendant was disqualified from driving for 15 years and fined a total of €7,500.
  • The judge fixed recognisance in case of appeal.
37 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatA man was caught driving a dangerously defective BMW at 227 kph in a 100 km zone in Laois. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whatA garda's speed gun detected the car travelling at 227 kph in the 100 kmh zone. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whereThe offence took place at Ballytarsna, Borris-in-Ossory, Laois. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whereThe car was detected in a 100 kph zone in Laois. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whereThe driver was caught in a 100km zone in Laois. (tipperarylive.ie)
  • whereThe offence is alleged to have happened at Ballytarsna, Borris-in-Ossory, Laois. (tipperarylive.ie)
  • whenThe offence took place on 28 May 2019. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whenThe offences were alleged to have happened at Ballytarsna, Borris-in-Ossory, Laois, on May 28, 2019. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whenThe offence is alleged to have happened on 28 May 2019. (tipperarylive.ie)
  • causeA garda detected the car travelling at 227kph in the 100km/h zone using a speed gun. (tipperarylive.ie)
  • investigationA garda using a speed gun detected the car travelling at 227kph in the 100kmh zone. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • investigationThe garda tried to follow the car but it disappeared and he was unable to catch it. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • investigationThe garda found the car in a car park in Roscrea, where the engine was still warm. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • investigationThe car was found in a car park with its engine still warm. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • investigationA transcript of the March 25 court sitting was ordered sent to the Garda Superintendent at Portlaoise for investigation over a legal aid application. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • investigationA PSV inspection found the car was dangerously defective. (tipperarylive.ie)
  • chargeThe defendant denied dangerous driving and driving without insurance. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • chargeThe defendant had denied charges of dangerous driving and driving without insurance. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • chargeThe defendant had denied dangerous driving and driving without insurance. (tipperarylive.ie)
  • courtThe judge described the driving as lethal and said the defendant showed incredible recklessness. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • courtThe judge said the speed was not far off the highest he had come across in court. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtThe judge said the man drove with an utter disregard for his own life and that of others. (tipperarylive.ie)
  • courtThe garda said the man had 24 previous convictions, including two for no insurance and a dangerous driving conviction. (tipperarylive.ie)
  • sentenceThe defendant was jailed for six months. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • sentenceA further six-month sentence was imposed and suspended for two years. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • sentenceThe defendant was disqualified from driving for 15 years. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • sentenceThe defendant was fined a total of €7,500. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge fixed recognisance in case of appeal. (leinsterexpress.ie, offalyexpress.ie)
  • sentenceThe defendant was jailed for six months, with a further six months suspended for two years, disqualified from driving for 15 years and fined a total of €7,500. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • sentenceThe man was jailed for six months, with a further six-month sentence suspended for two years, disqualified from driving for 15 years and fined a total of €7,500. (tipperarylive.ie)
  • otherThe driver gave a garda the middle finger before speeding from the scene. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherA PSV inspection found the car was dangerously defective, with worn rear tyres. (leinsterexpress.ie, offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherThe man had 24 previous convictions, including two for no insurance and a dangerous driving conviction. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherThe judge directed that a transcript of a March 25 court sitting be sent to the Garda Superintendent at Portlaoise for investigation. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherThe defendant gave the garda a single-finger gesture as he drove past. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherThe garda said the defendant had 24 previous convictions, including two for no insurance and one for dangerous driving. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherThe judge said the driving was lethal. (tipperarylive.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 9 Oct2024
    Sentencedtipperarylive.ie, first report
    Tipperary 'born again Christian' gave garda the finger and sped off in BMW

    Court report of sentencing, with the judge's comments, the defendant's previous convictions and the penalties. The offence is dated 28 May 2019, and the article gives no other case that matches existing records.

    convicted, Robert Matieska, 33, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Robert Matieska
  2. 9 Oct2024
    Sentencedoffalyexpress.ie, follow-up
    'Born again Christian' gave garda the finger and sped off after driving BMW at 227 kph in the Midlands

    Reports the sentencing of Robert Matieska, including the garda evidence of the 227 kph speed, the defendant's prior convictions and the sentence imposed by Judge Andrew Cody. Also reports that a transcript was ordered to be sent to gardaí for investigation over a legal aid application.

    convicted, Robert Matieska, 33, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Robert Matieska
  3. 9 Oct2024
    Sentencedleinsterexpress.ie, follow-up
    'Born again Christian' gave garda the finger and sped off after driving BMW at 227 kph in Laois

    Court report of the sentencing. It adds the speed and vehicle details, the garda evidence, the defendant's previous convictions, and the sentence. The article gives the offence date as 28 May 2019 and does not report the sentencing date.

    convicted, Robert Matieska, 33, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Robert Matieska