Ireland Crime

Named as

Convicted, accused

Born

Between September 1994 and June 1995, from the ages reported

Offences

Obstruction of Gardaí, Failure to provide a blood sample

Where

Co. Laois

Reporting

2 reports, 27 Jun 2025 to 28 Sep 2026

Outlets

leinsterexpress.ie

• Man admits obstructing Gardaí during Portlaoise drugs search Obstruction of Gardaí · Co. Laois

  On 15 July 2025, James Kelly (31), of Maryborough Village, Portlaoise, obstructed Gardaí during a drugs search at a house in Portlaoise, according to Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby. Gardaí arrived with a warrant and had to force their way in, and Kelly fled to the rear garden, tried to dispose of a mobile phone and threw items into a ditch that were not recovered. On 28 September 2026, Kelly admitted obstructing Gardaí at Portlaoise District Court, where the judge ordered a probation report. The latest development is that the matter was adjourned to 14 December.

  In court, 28 Sep 2026Accused · 1 report
• Laois man convicted of refusing blood sample after roadside drug test Failure to provide a blood sample · Co. Laois

  James Kelly (30), also known as James Ryan, of Maryborough, Portlaoise, Co. Laois, was arrested after Garda David O'Byrne stopped his VW Golf on the Mountrath Road in Portlaoise at 10.30am on 25 February 2025, following a failure to use the correct lane at a roundabout and not indicating off it, and a roadside drug test returned a positive reading. At Portlaoise Garda Station he was accused of refusing a blood sample, saying he feared needles, and then refusing a urine sample. A court report published on 29 June 2025 said he was convicted, disqualified from driving for four years and fined €500 with 12 months to pay, with gardaí producing tattoo photographs they said contradicted his claim. He appealed before the sitting of the court concluded.

  Sentenced, 27 Jun 2025Convicted · 1 report

Each entry shows how that report described them.

1. 28 Sep2026
   In courtleinsterexpress.ie, in Man admits obstructing Gardaí during Portlaoise drugs search

   Man obstructed Gardaí during drugs search in Portlaoise

   accused, James Kelly, 31, male, named, irish (judged from name)James Kelly♂31IE
2. 27 Jun2025
   Sentencedleinsterexpress.ie, in Laois man convicted of refusing blood sample after roadside drug test

   Laois Garda says man who feared needles had tattoos

   convicted, James Kelly, 30, male, named, irish (judged from name)James Kelly♂30IE

Matched on the name as printed, ignoring quoted nicknames, and split by the ages reported. Two people who share a name and age would appear together here.