Despite all the warnings Gardaí are continuing to find people gathering for house parties or social gatherings. They point out that these gatherings not only put those attending at risk, but everyone they come into contact with after including loved ones, neighbours, colleagues and local community.
To date, An Garda Síochána has issued over 15,000 Covid-19 related fines across the range of all COVID-19 breaches.
At close of business yesterday (March 18 2021), the following number of fines had been issued:
- 466 fines of €500 each for organising a house party and 1,842 €150 fines for attending a house party
11,072 €100 fines for non-essential travel - 636 €500 fines for non-essential journeys to airports/ports – the total number of €100 and €500 fines for non-essential journeys to airports/ports is 1,011
- 269 fines of €80 each for not wearing a face covering
- 262 fines of €100 for non-essential travel by persons not ordinarily resident in the State
Further data on COVID-19 fines include age, gender, and divisional breakdown is available on www.Garda.ie.
An Garda Síochána will be continuing nationwide checkpoints and high visibility patrols at public amenities, parks and beauty spots across the country this weekend in support of public health regulations. Garda checkpoints apply to all roads users including cyclists.
An Garda Síochána is again advising the public of the need to plan their activities over the weekend to take account that people are only allowed to exercise within 5km of their home. People are reminded that the 5km limit includes the distance travelled from their home to a location for exercise. In other words, you can’t travel more than 5km to a location to exercise.
The public should also be aware that if a driver is found to be in breach of the non-essential travel regulations that not only can the driver be fined, but their adult passengers as well. This is also the case for adults in groups undertaking activities such as cycling or walking – every adult in such a group can be fined.
When visiting amenities within 5km of your home please park legally. Illegal parking can hinder access by emergency services and could put lives at risk. As we saw during previous weekends, people who illegally park are at risk of having their cars towed and impounded.
In enforcing these regulations, Gardaí have been using the 4Es approach – engaging, explaining, and encouraging with enforcement a last resort.
An Garda Síochána continues to remind persons subject to domestic violence – Travel restrictions DO NOT APPLY in the case of domestic violence or to escape a risk of harm, whether to the person or to another person.
