Thursday 29 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. 12706Hit and run (failing to stop and failing to remain at the scene) · Co. Laois · 19 Jul 2024

Woman convicted of hit and run at Kyle Shopping Centre, Portlaoise

Aisling Ruane, 47, of Portarlington, was convicted at Portlaoise District Court of failing to stop and failing to remain at the scene after a collision at the Kyle Shopping Centre in Portlaoise on 19 July 2024. She was disqualified for two years and fined €250 for each of the two proven counts.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Convicted12 Sep
    2 reports
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
30 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe victim's BMW was damaged and scratched along one side (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whatGardaí assessed the damage at €3,500 (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whatAn insurance company paid for the damage (leinsterexpress.ie, offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatWitness Claire Maher heard a bang and saw a light blue Corsa reversing out (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whatThe witness took a photograph of the defendant's registration plate (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whatThe witness admitted she had not actually seen the impact (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whatA woman parked her BMW near Elverys shop and found it damaged and scratched along one side (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatClaire Maher wrote a note on the car saying she witnessed someone hitting it (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatClaire Maher heard a bang and saw a light blue Corsa reversing out (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatClaire Maher took a photograph of the driver's registration plate (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatThe alleged collision was between an 09 reg Corsa and a 161 registered BMW (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatThe damage to the BMW amounted to €3,500 (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whereThe incident occurred at the Kyle Shopping Centre in Portlaoise (leinsterexpress.ie, offalyexpress.ie)
  • whenThe incident took place on 19 July 2024 (offalyexpress.ie)
  • investigationThere was no CCTV of the incident (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • investigationThere was no technical report of the damage that could link or clear the defendant (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • investigationThe defendant's car was taken by Gardaí for examination (offalyexpress.ie)
  • chargeThe defendant was accused of four counts of hit and run (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • chargeAisling Ruane was accused of four counts of hit and run (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtThe judge said the woman should not have been on the road until 18 November 2024 (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • sentenceThe defendant was disqualified from driving for two years (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • sentenceThe defendant was fined €250 for failing to remain at the scene (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • sentenceThe defendant was fined €250 for failing to stop (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge disqualified her from driving for two years (offalyexpress.ie)
  • sentenceShe was fined €250 for failing to remain at the scene and €250 for failing to stop (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherThe defendant had previous convictions for no insurance, no NCT, and was disqualified for four years for drug driving in November 2020 (leinsterexpress.ie, offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherThe defendant got her licence back early through a district court application (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherThe judge noted the defendant should not have been driving until 18 November 2024 (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherThe defendant relies on a crutch to get around (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherThe defendant said she bought her car cheaply because it had scratches and damage (offalyexpress.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 13 Sep2025
    Convictedoffalyexpress.ie, first report
    Woman convicted of hit and run at shopping centre in the Midlands

    Reports the full court proceedings at Portlaoise District Court, including witness testimony from Claire Maher and Garda Alyssa O'Sullivan, the defendant's own evidence, and Judge Andrew Cody's conviction on two of four counts and sentencing.

    convicted, Aisling Ruane, 47, female, named, irish (judged from name)Aisling Ruanevictim, female
  2. 12 Sep2025
    Convictedleinsterexpress.ie, follow-up
    Woman convicted of hit and run at shopping centre in Laois

    Full court proceedings details including witness testimony from Claire Maher, defence arguments about lack of technical report and corrupted CCTV, the defendant's own evidence, prior convictions, and sentencing.

    victim, femaleaccused, Aisling Ruane, 47, female, named, irish (judged from name)Aisling Ruane