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. 17440Driving without tax · Co. Laois

Van with no road tax for almost eight years stopped in Laois

Gardaí in Laois stopped a van that had not been taxed for 2,857 days, almost eight years, and had no working handbrake and very poor tyres. The driver, a man whose age and nationality are not given, said he had just bought the van and chose to drive it rather than call a tow truck. The incident date is not stated; the Leinster Express reported the stop on 27 April 2024 from a Garda social media post. Gardaí said a PSV matter and a prosecution would follow, but no arrest, charge, court appearance or sentence has been reported.

  1. Reported27 Apr
  2. Arrested
  3. Charged
  4. In court
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Gardaí stopped a van that had not been taxed for almost eight years.
  • Gardaí said the van's road tax had been out for 2,857 days and it had no NCT.
Where
The stop took place in Laois, with the Mountrath Garda station reported as the unit involved.
When
The Leinster Express published its report on 27 April 2024, and the article gives no exact incident date.
Cause
Gardaí said the van was seen being driven with its lights hanging off, which prompted the stop.
Investigation
Gardaí found several issues when they pulled the van over, including very poor tyres and a handbrake that was not working.
Other details
The driver, a man, said he had just bought the van and chose to drive it instead of getting a tow truck.
Charges
Gardaí said a PSV matter would follow and a prosecution, and no charge has been reported.
7 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatGardaí stopped a van that had not been taxed for almost eight years and had no working handbrake. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whatGardaí said the van's road tax was out for 2,857 days. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whatThe tyres were in very poor condition. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whatThe van's handbrake was not working. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • investigationGardaí discovered several issues when they pulled the van over. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherThe driver said he had just bought the van and chose to drive it instead of getting a tow truck. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherGardaí said a PSV matter would follow and a prosecution. (leinsterexpress.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 27 Apr2024
    Reportedleinsterexpress.ie, first report
    Laois Gardaí say van with 'lights hanging off' wasn't taxed in almost eight years

    Report of a Garda social media post about a single van stop in Laois, published by Leinster Express on 27 April 2024. The article gives no exact incident date or name for the driver.

    suspect