Alarming incident in Laois village
The silver/light grey Range Rover Sport, similar to the model pictured, had a yellow UK registration plate
AN ALERT has been issued following a report of a disturbing incident in a Laois village, when a jeep mounted a pavement at high speed and narrowly missed two terrified locals sitting in a parked car.
According to the pair, two men in the jeep stared directly at them and grinned before revving up and careering towards their car, in an apparent attempt to intimidate them.
One person in the car said: ‘This was a frightening and highly suspicious incident and we have no idea who these individuals are. Their behaviour was aggressive and intimidating and we are concerned for others who might encounter them.’
The unsettling incident happened close to the bridge in Clonaslee at about 10.30pm last night, near the entrance to Moran's Garage on Main Street.
Reporting the encounter on the Rosenallis social media page, one of the two friends said: ‘We were parked and eating food we had gotten from the chipper. Our car was reversed in, facing out. Suddenly, a silver/light grey Range Rover Sport, with a yellow UK registration plate possibly starting with EX03, sped past us at a high speed.
‘There was a loud noise coming from the jeep, which indicated some mechanical issue. The vehicle then braked sharply outside The Swan Pub, turned around in a nearby gate and drove back toward the village at speed. It passed us again and then stopped suddenly outside Moran’s Shop.
‘We noticed the passenger staring at us. The vehicle then aggressively reversed back toward the bridge, with both the driver and passenger now grinning while looking directly at us. They then drove toward us at speed and mounted the pavement, coming very close to our car, seemingly intending to confront us.
‘Fearing for our safety, we drove away quickly to a nearby estate. They did not follow us, but moments later we saw the same vehicle speeding past the entrance of Slieve Bloom Park heading towards Rosenallis.’
The men appeared to be in their early to mid-20s and of average build, with dark hair and black facial hair. The passenger had a trimmed in moustache and stubble.
A warning about the incident on Saturday night, 28 June, has been shared on community alert and local social media sites. Anyone with information is asked to contact Portlaoise Garda Station at 057 8674100 or any garda station.
