Ireland Under investigation: fatal quad bike accident in County Laois
David Brown, a 15-year-old man from Portlaoise, died after a quad bike carrying two males collided with a tree in a wooded area near Ballyshanduff, Ballybrittas, County Laois, on Easter Sunday, 9 April 2023, at approximately 1:30pm. A second male youth in his teens was taken to Midlands Regional Hospital Tullamore with injuries believed to be non-life-threatening. Gardaí in Portlaoise are treating the incident as an accident and investigations remain ongoing. In May 2023, Gardaí renewed their appeal for witnesses and camera footage from the area between 1:00pm and 2:00pm on the day of the incident.
- Reported10 Apr
6 reports - Arrested
- Charged
- In court
- Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- A fatal incident involving a quad bike with two males on board occurred, killing 15-year-old David Brown from Portlaoise.
- Where
- The incident occurred in a wooded area near Ballyshanduff, Ballybrittas, County Laois, also described as near Emo.
- When
- The incident occurred on Easter Sunday, 9 April 2023, at approximately 1:30pm (some reports say around 2pm).
- Cause
- The quad bike collided with a tree.
- Investigation
- Gardaí in Portlaoise are treating the incident as an accident and investigations are ongoing.
- Gardaí renewed their appeal for witnesses and camera footage in May 2023.
- Other details
- A second male youth in his teens was taken to Midlands Regional Hospital Tullamore with injuries believed to be non-life-threatening.
- David Brown was a student of St Mary's CBS and an emerging talent with Portlaoise GAA club who represented Laois in Gaelic games.
- Portlaoise GAA Club paid tribute to David Brown on Facebook, describing him as a shining star in football and hurling.
38 statements extracted from the articles
- whatA teenage boy from Portlaoise died in a quad bike accident. (offalyexpress.ie, leinsterexpress.ie)
- whatThe boy was aged in his mid-teens. (offalyexpress.ie)
- whatThe boy was named David Brown. (offalyexpress.ie, leinsterexpress.ie)
- whatDavid Brown was the son of James and Carmel and brother of Conor and Sarah. (offalyexpress.ie, leinsterexpress.ie)
- whatHe was a student of St Mary's CBS. (offalyexpress.ie, leinsterexpress.ie)
- whatHe was an emerging talent with Portlaoise GAA club and represented Laois in Gaelic games. (offalyexpress.ie)
- whatHis father James is a painting contractor and a member of Laois County Fire and Rescue Service at Portlaoise Fire Station. (offalyexpress.ie, leinsterexpress.ie)
- whatHe was an emerging talent with Portlaoise GAA club and lined out for Laois. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whatHe represented Laois in Gaelic games. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whatA fatal incident occurred at a wooded area near Ballyshanduff, Ballybrittas, County Laois on Sunday 9 April 2023. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whatThe incident involved a quad bike with two males on board. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whatA male youth in his teens was removed to Midlands Regional Hospital Portlaoise where he has since passed away. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whatA second male youth in his teens was removed to Midlands Regional Hospital Tullamore to be treated for injuries believed to be non-life threatening. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whatA 15-year-old GAA player was killed in a quad bike accident. (extra.ie)
- whatDavid Brown from Portlaoise was killed in a quad bike accident on Easter Sunday in a wooded area near Emo. (offalyexpress.ie)
- whatA fatal incident occurred in a wooded area near Ballyshaneduff, Ballybrittas, County Laois. (kildarenow.com)
- whereThe incident took place in a wooded area near Emo. (offalyexpress.ie, leinsterexpress.ie)
- whereThe accident occurred in County Laois. (extra.ie)
- whenThe incident occurred on Easter Sunday, 9 April 2023, around 2pm. (offalyexpress.ie)
- whenThe incident occurred on Easter Sunday, around 2 pm on 9 April 2023. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whenThe incident occurred at approximately 1:30pm. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whenThe incident occurred on Sunday 9 April 2023. (kildarenow.com)
- whenThe collision happened at approximately 1.30pm. (kildarenow.com)
- causeA quad bike with two males on board collided with a tree. (kildarenow.com)
- investigationGardaí in Portlaoise are treating the incident as an accident. (offalyexpress.ie)
- investigationGardaí in Portlaoise confirmed the incident as an accident. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- investigationInvestigations are ongoing. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- investigationGardaí are appealing for witnesses and camera footage to come forward. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- investigationIndividuals with information or camera footage are asked to contact Portlaoise Garda Station on 0578674100, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- investigationGardaí in Portlaoise are renewing their appeal to the public for information. (kildarenow.com)
- investigationGardaí are asking anyone with information about the incident to contact them. (kildarenow.com)
- investigationGardaí asked road users and pedestrians with camera or dash cam footage to make it available. (kildarenow.com)
- otherPortlaoise GAA Club paid tribute to David Brown on Facebook. (offalyexpress.ie)
- otherThe club described David as one of their best and brightest in football and hurling for club and county. (offalyexpress.ie)
- otherThe club described him as vibrant, fearless, skilful, determined and proud, a shining star on every team he played for. (offalyexpress.ie)
- otherThe club said David was a cast iron prospect for the future of their senior teams. (offalyexpress.ie)
- otherThe tribute addresses family members James, Carmel, Conor and Sarah and references the extended Brown and Maloney families. (offalyexpress.ie)
- otherPortlaoise GAA star David Brown (15) died in the incident. (kildarenow.com)
The reporting
newest first- 22 May2023Gardaí renew appeal over fatal incident on Kildare/Laois border
Renewed garda appeal for information and camera footage. Names the victim as David Brown (15) and describes the quad bike collision with a tree.
victim, David Brown, 15, irish (judged from name)David Brown - 10 Apr2023Tributes paid to young GAA star killed in quad bike accident in the Midlands
Portlaoise GAA Club published a Facebook tribute describing David Brown as a 'shining star' in football and hurling. The tribute names his family members James, Carmel, Conor and Sarah, and references the extended Brown and Maloney families.
victim, David Brown, male, irish (judged from name)David Brown - 10 Apr2023Young GAA Star, 15, Killed Following Tragic Quad Bike Accident In Laois
Initial report of the fatal quad bike accident; the victim is identified only as a 15-year-old GAA player.
victim, 15 - 10 Apr2023Gardaí appeal for information following tragic fatality in Laois on Easter Sunday
Gardaí appeal for witnesses and camera footage; confirms the second male youth in his teens was taken to Midlands Regional Hospital Tullamore with non-life-threatening injuries; investigations ongoing.
victim, David Brown, 15, male, irish (judged from name)David Brownvictim, teens, male - 10 Apr2023Teenager killed in Laois in quad bike accident
Provides personal details about David Brown: parents James and Carmel, siblings Conor and Sarah, school (St Mary's CBS), GAA involvement with Portlaoise GAA club and Laois, and his father's roles as a painting contractor and member of Laois County Fire and Rescue Service at Portlaoise Fire Station.
victim, David Brown, mid-teens, male, irish (judged from name)David Brown - 10 Apr2023Teenager tragically killed in quad bike accident in the Midlands
Adds family details: David Brown was son of James and Carmel, brother of Conor and Sarah, a student of St Mary's CBS, an emerging talent with Portlaoise GAA club who represented Laois in Gaelic games. His father James is a painting contractor and member of Laois County Fire and Rescue Service at Portlaoise Fire Station.
victim, David Brown, mid-teens, male, irish (judged from name)David Brown