DUBLIN: The number of people absconding from Ireland’s mandatory hotel quarantine is increasing. Three women absconded from the Crowne Plaza quarantine hotel in Santry, north Dublin, yesterday.
Garda confirmed that they had been staying at the quarantine hotel for several days. However, Garda officers found them about 200km away in east Galway. The gardai caught them while patrolling.
Although Gardai confirmed that they had been sent back to quarantine, authorities have not released any personal information about the absconded women. The Gardai said that their ages and nationalities have not been confirmed. The matter is currently under consideration by the Department of Health.
“As the Department of Health are the lead agency in relation to the management of mandatory quarantining, An Garda Síochána will not be commenting further at this time,” Gardai said in a statement.
A spokesperson for the health department stated that the department would not comment on individual cases.
There is no clarity on whether the three women arrived at Dublin Airport or where they came from. They were found in a car during a motorway patrol near Loughrea and persuaded to return to the Dublin hotel.
“An Garda Síochána are liaising with the State Liaison Officer at a designated quarantine facility in accordance with current protocols following a report of three people leaving a facility in the Dublin area earlier today. A graduated policing response was adopted by Gardaí and all three have since been returned to the facility,” Gardai statement added.
Violation of the new mandatory 14-day hotel quarantine law in the country carries a fine of up to €2,000 and imprisonment for up to a month.
The other day, two young women from the UAE were arrested for violating quarantine law. They were later granted bail by the high court. However, the High Court ruled that they must be quarantined.
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