An investigation is underway after a teenager broke out of a care centre and stole a car to go home, prompting a Garda pursuit across four counties.
The chase ended when road blocks brought the teen to a halt, on the outskirts of Limerick city.
The 14-year-old youth escaped from a care facility in Mountrath in County Laois on Thursday afternoon, after stealing the keys of a staff member's Volkswagen Passat car.
The youth, who could barely see over the driving wheel, then led gardaí on a chase for over 100km.
At one stage, traffic on the M7 was brought to a halt between Roscrea and Limerick city.
Gardaí pursued the youth through Laois, Tipperary, Offaly, back into Tipperary and finally to Limerick, where roadblocks brought the chase to a halt on the outskirts of the city.
The juvenile, who was not injured, was arrested and later released into the care of the HSE.
