Gardaí fined a three-member group that travelled 80km to buy burgers

DUBLIN: Gardai has fined 29 people for violating the travel restrictions of COVID-19, including three who travelled 80 km to buy burgers! The three-member ‘burger group,’ which travelled 80 km to buy burgers in Ringsend, Dublin, was stopped by the gardai at the Sean Moore Road checkpoint.

The driver told Gardai that they had traveled from Meath to buy burgers at the Ringsend in Dublin. Gardai fined everyone in the car for violating the travel restrictions.

Garda said a reasonable excuse like the three men who traveled 80 kilometers to collect burgers from the takeaway were not good enough for the violation. In North County Dublin, two gym instructors and four people were fined by the Gardai.

The Gardai has been issuing a Fixed Payment Notice (FPN) of €100 since Monday to those who violate travel restrictions without a valid reason. The gardai imposed 29 fines in three days and further eight fines between January 1 and 10.

Deputy Commissioner, Policing and Security, John Twomey said static checkposts and other mobile checkpoints on national highways would continue to patrol in areas such as parks and scenic areas.

He added that violations of public health regulations continue to be investigated through Operation Fanacht and Operation Treoraim.