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. 17199Assault on a garda · Co. Laois · 13 Feb 2024

Suspected shoplifter allegedly assaults two gardaí during Laois traffic stop

On 13 February 2024, gardaí stopped a vehicle for having no insurance at M7 Morette, Portlaoise, County Laois. The male driver, a suspected prolific shoplifter, allegedly assaulted both gardaí, was pepper sprayed and fled the scene. He was arrested a short distance away, hiding in a conservatory of a house, and €5,100 in cash and a high-end watch believed to be worth around €10,000 were recovered. The driver was later detained and charged with a number of offences, including money laundering, as reported on 17 May 2024; no court appearance or sentence is reported.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Charged17 May
  4. In court
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • The driver allegedly assaulted both gardaí and fled the scene.
  • The driver was pepper sprayed.
  • The suspect is suspected of being a prolific shoplifter.
Where
The incident took place at M7 Morette, Portlaoise, County Laois.
When
The garda statement gives the incident date as 13 February 2024, and the report was published on 17 May 2024.
Cause
Gardaí stopped the vehicle for having no insurance.
Investigation
  • The driver was arrested a short distance away, hiding in a conservatory of a house.
  • The suspect had €5,100 in cash on his person, in €100 and €200 notes.
  • Suspected stolen items were seized from the vehicle.
  • A high-end watch believed to be worth around €10,000 was recovered, and gardaí are appealing to the public to share images to identify its owner.
Charges
The driver was detained and later charged with a number of offences, including money laundering.
Other details
No court appearance or sentence is reported in the sources.
12 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe driver fled the scene after assaulting both gardaí. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whatThe driver was pepper sprayed. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whatThe suspect is suspected of being a prolific shoplifter. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whatA high-end watch believed to be worth around €10,000 was recovered. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whereThe incident took place at M7 Morette, Portlaoise, County Laois. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whenThe incident took place on 13 February 2024. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • causeGardaí stopped a vehicle for having no insurance. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • investigationThe driver was arrested a short distance away, hiding in a conservatory in a house. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • investigationThe suspect had €5,100 in cash on his person, in €100 and €200 notes. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • investigationSuspected stolen items were seized from the vehicle. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • investigationGardaí are appealing to the public to share images of the watch to identify its owner. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • chargeThe driver was detained and later charged with a number of offences, including money laundering. (leinsterexpress.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 17 May2024
    Chargedleinsterexpress.ie, first report
    Suspected 'prolific shoplifter' allegedly assaults two gardaí during Laois traffic stop

    Reports the garda statement describing the traffic stop, the assault, the arrest, the cash and watch seized, and the charges. The article is dated 17 May 2024, but the garda statement it quotes gives the incident date as 13/02/2024.

    accused, malevictim