Portlaoise garda appeal over dangerous BMW driver 

PORTLAOISE gardaí are appealing for witnesses, after a car was involved in a series of dangerous driving incidents in the town last night.

A dark 5 series BMW drove through a checkpoint on the Dublin Road shortly after midnight, before taking off on a terrifying journey around the town.

The runaway vehicle smashed into a parked car in a housing estate during the escapade, before speeding away again.

Gardaí said today: ‘The manner of driving was extremely dangerous and reckless and has no place on our roads.’ 

Appealing for witnesses, particularly those with dashcam footage, the Laois Roads Policing Unit (RPU) said the dark BMW 520/530 drove through a checkpoint outside the fire station on the Dublin Road, at about 12.10am on Monday 23 December.

It was subsequently involved in a number of dangerous driving incidents, after travelling out the Borris Road and into Dr Murphy Place, where it crashed into a parked car.

The BMW then took off again along the Dublin Road and turned onto the Block Road, before driving back along the Stradbally Road towards town. It then turned right at SS Peter and Paul’s Church and went back out the Dublin Road again.

Gardaí are appealing for assistance in locating or identifying the BMW and driver. Anyone that was travelling in the relevant locations between 12.10am and 12.30am, who may have dashcam footage or information relating to the incidents, is asked to contact Portlaoise Garda Station at 057 8674100 and leave a message for the Laois RPU.

The unit can also be contacted at Portlaoise.traffic@garda.ie or the Garda confidential line at 1800 666 111.