'The BMW that Shook the Barley': Gardaí arrest motorist travelling at 172kp/h on M7 motorway 

The motorist was arrested at the scene on August bank holiday Monday. Image: An Garda Síochána Laois/Offaly

A sudden northerly gust that shook a field of barley in Co Laois turned out to be a BMW doing 172kp/h.

The car swept past a roadside field on the M7 motorway at 52kp/h above the speed limit, according to Laois gardaí.

In a social media post earlier this week which was titled The BMW That Shook the Barley, An Garda Síochána Laois/Offaly said: "Met Éireann issued no advanced warning for the sudden northerly gust that swept through Laois yesterday morning… It turned out to be a BMW X5 traveling at 172kp/h."

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

The driver was caught during a radar speed check by the Laois Roads Policing Unit (RPU), as part of the bank holiday weekend national road safety operation.

Nationally, 5,054 drivers were caught speeding over the course of the policing operation which commenced last Thursday and concluded on Tuesday.

Additionally, 188 people were arrested for driving under the influence, while 353 people were caught for using a mobile phone and 104 people were found not wearing seatbelts.

The policing operation involved both statutory mandatory intoxicant testing and regular, high-visibility policing checkpoints.