Local news from all 26 countiesAbout us

Former Laois teacher remanded on bail in hit-and-run charge - Courts - Laois Nationalist

By Joe Barrett · Laois Nationalist · 14 September 2026

The former teacher pleaded guilty to the offences of hit and run by failing to remain at the scene, failing to stop, failing to report and failure to ...

A FORMER teacher was remanded on continuing bail at Portlaoise District Court last week after failing to stop following her involvement in a hit-and-run incident.

Jane Doherty (41), Knockanina, Mountrath pleaded guilty to the offences of hit and run by failing to remain at the scene, failing to stop, failing to report and failure to offer assistance at the LOETB College, Mountrath Road, Portlaoise on 16 April.

Garda Sgt Kirby said that as Ms Doherty was exiting the college car park, she struck another car, failed to remain at the scene and drove off.

Defence solicitor Barry Fitzgerald said that his client had been a teacher at the time and had been suspended. She had difficulties with alcohol and has since relocated to another county. He said that €821.74 damage was caused to the other car and that Ms Doherty would give an undertaking to have that money in court at the next sitting.

Sgt Kirby said that Ms Doherty had been insured at the time and that there was no mention of physical injuries caused in the collision. He said the injured party in the case had made a statement and in it said she had not been in her car at the time of the collision.

Judge Andrew Cody adjourned the case to clarify whether there had been injury caused to the other driver and said he would finalise the case on 24 September.

View original story

Reporting by Joe Barrett for Laois Nationalist , funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme. Republished by News Room under the scheme’s reuse permission.

About News Room →