Gardai won't press charges without DPP go-ahead
Seven people were arrested over the bank-holiday weekend for breaches of COVID-19 regulations under section 31a of the Health Act 1947.
Gardaí have sent all of the cases to the DPP – no one has yet been charged. Gardaí have been told not to press charges without consulting the DPP.
Public order
In a further 144 cases of health-regulation breaches, gardaí used public order, assault, road traffic and drugs legislation to press charges.
A total of 650 checkpoints were manned by gardaí across the country over the Easter weekend.
Garda checkpoints in well-known beauty spots, such as Waterville, Co Kerry, stopped and questioned visitors and turned them away in most cases.
One couple in possession of a doctor’s letter were allowed through the checkpoint to their seaside home.