Cannabis smell brings ban for Portlaoise driver
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A MOTORIST who was stopped at a checkpoint after a garda noticed a strong smell of cannabis from his vehicle has been disqualified from driving for a year.
Portlaoise resident Jeroen Le Mahieu (47) pleaded guilty to drug driving when he appeared before Carlow District Court.
The court heard that on the morning of 17 September 2025, Mr Le Mahieu was stopped at an RSA checkpoint by Garda Reilly, who noticed a strong smell of cannabis coming from his vehicle. A drug test was administered and the defendant tested positive for cannabis.
He was arrested and brought to Carlow Garda Station, where a blood specimen was taken and sent to the Medical Bureau of Road Safety. It returned a reading of 1.32mg of THC per 100ml.
The court heard that Mr Le Mahieu of Parnell Crescent, Portlaoise, Laois had no previous convictions.
Defence solicitor Joe Farrell asked Judge Geraldine Carthy to give his client credit for his guilty plea, adding that he was aware there would be an automatic disqualification.
“He tells me he’ll take it on the chin,” he said of Mr Le Mahieu, who was accompanied by his partner in court.
Mr Farrell said the defendant, who had moved to Ireland from Holland at the age of 14, was generally employed as a truck driver, adding that he was “very regretful” of his behaviour concerning the incident.
Judge Carthy convicted Mr Le Mahieu of drug driving, fined him €300 to be paid within 120 days and disqualified him from driving for one year.
