A retired garda detective, Maria McWey, was in the vicinity, heard the man cry out and intervened.

Theresa Conroy has 116 previous convictions and was sentenced after stealing groceries, perfume and cosmetics from Portlaoise shops

He was before the court summonsed with possessing 11 grams or €220 worth of cannabis herb for his own use, when gardaí stopped and searched him at The Gandon Inn, Emo on 22 March.

The car he was driving was found to be "in dangerously defective condition". 

The car must be put up for sale immediately and, if it were not sold within 18 weeks from July 23, it would be destroyed the judge said. 

The motorist was arrested at the scene on August bank holiday Monday and has been charged to appear before Portlaoise District Court.

The car was seized and the motorist was charged to appear at Portlaoise District Court. 

The woman was recovering from the surgery and could not appear in court

A covert HGV cab helped gardaí identify distracted motorists, resulting in dozens of fixed charge notices within hours

Registered owner must apply to the District Court to recover the seized vehicle after the high-speed motorway incident