Ireland

Gardai have used coronavirus emergency powers 139 times in a month

Gardai at a checkpoint on the M1 between Belfast and Dublin during the coronavirus lockdown
Gardai at a checkpoint on the M1 between Belfast and Dublin during the coronavirus lockdown Gardai at a checkpoint on the M1 between Belfast and Dublin during the coronavirus lockdown
By Cate McCurry and Press Association

Gardai used emergency powers aimed at halting the spread of the coronavirus 139 times in a month.

The figures between April 8 until May 2 include both arrests and incidents without arrest where a person's name and address were taken and passed on to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) on any decision to issue charges.

Gardai said one man questioned in Dublin told officers he was travelling to do a painting job in Co Meath.

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He told gardai he "did not care about (the) restrictions as it has not affected him or anybody he knows".

The man also said he would not be adhering to restrictions from "a non-elected government" and that he would continue to work.

The man was told to return home, however he refused and travelled on to Co Meath.

A file has been submitted to the DPP.

Gardai said the vast majority of people have complied with lockdown restrictions.

A large number of garda checkpoints have been set up at tourist locations, beauty spots, and parks and beaches over the last week.

Gardai said they spoke to hundreds of thousands of people, with most adhering to public health guidelines to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) technology was used to calculate the exact number of vehicles passing through the checkpoints.

It reported that 21 of the 13,324 car drivers checked - 0.16% - were asked to turn around for not having a valid reason for travel and all agreed to do so.

The PSNI and Garda mounted a series of cross border checkpoints, including at Lifford Bridge between Strabane, Co Tyrone, and Lifford in Co Donegal
The PSNI and Garda mounted a series of cross border checkpoints, including at Lifford Bridge between Strabane, Co Tyrone, and Lifford in Co Donegal The PSNI and Garda mounted a series of cross border checkpoints, including at Lifford Bridge between Strabane, Co Tyrone, and Lifford in Co Donegal

A small minority of cases across the country were not willing to take steps to comply with the public health guidelines and regulations.

Garda Commissioner Drew Harris said: "The continued high level of compliance with the health guidelines is very welcome and we thank the public for it.

"Both the low level of 'turn-backs' at major checkpoints and the very small usage of the regulations compared to the huge number of interactions we have had with people show that the vast majority of people are playing their part in tackling Covid-19.

"At the outset of the Covid-19 situation, I said that An Garda Siochana will continue to operate as a community-based policing service with a focus on protecting the vulnerable.

"This approach will not change."

From April 8 until May 2, there were 52 incidents of spitting and/or coughing at garda members.

Within the same date range, gardai had to use anti-spit guards 28 times.

Mr Harris said: "Regrettably, we continue to see spitting and coughing attacks on our personnel.

"These are a significant health and safety risk to our members in the current environment. We must protect them from such disgraceful attacks.

"This includes having the option of using anti-spit guards in very limited circumstances. We have made it clear these anti-spit guards are only to be used as last resort and in line with the Garda decision making model, which includes at its centre human rights and our code of ethics."