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A 32-year-old woman escaped jail time for violating Covid 19 travel restrictions when she boarded a bus in Limerick to take a prom ride at Salthill in Galway with her then-boyfriend.
In Ennis District Court, Denise O’Keeffe’s attorney, Daragh Hassett stated that his client “only wanted a few hours away” from home when he boarded a Galway-bound bus in Limerick to violate Covid 19 travel restrictions during the confinement’.
Mr. Hassett stated that his client’s intention in boarding the Bus Eireann bus was to walk to the prom at Salthill in Galway with her then boyfriend and then return home to Limerick.
In Ennis District Court on Wednesday, Hassett said that Ms. O’Keeffe is a full-time caregiver for her mother, who is a wheelchair user, and that Ms. O’Keeffe had not left the home since Christmas, apart from visits to his living father. near.
In the case, Judge Patrick Durcan imposed a 100 euro fine on Ms O’Keeffe of Ballynanty Rd, Limerick after she pleaded guilty to violating government health regulations intended to prevent, limit, minimize or slow down the spread of Covid 19 in Portdrine, Cratloe. in southeast Clare on the last April 15.
Sergeant Aiden Lonergan stated that Ms. O’Keeffe was found on a Bus Eireann bus at a Garda checkpoint.
The checkpoint was in place as part of Operation Fanacht de Garda aimed at stopping the spread of the Coronavirus across the country during the ‘lockdown’.
Sergeant Lonergan stated that the penalties in case of conviction are a prison term of up to six months and a fine of 1,500 euros.
Ms. O’Keeffe’s co-defendant Martin Desmond (40) of Church Street, St John’s Square, Limerick will plead not guilty and rebut the charge.
Desmond’s attorney, Tara Godfrey, told Judge Durcan that Mr. Desmond was unable to attend court because he was suspicious of Covid 19 and is currently awaiting test results.
Judge Durcan deferred Mr. Desmond’s case until November.
In imposing the € 100 fine on Ms O’Keeffe, Judge Durcan said his approach is to impose severe penalties for Covid 19 breaches.
However, Judge Durcan stated that Ms. O’Keeffe’s failure in the circumstances described is at the lower end of the scale.
Judge Durcan stated that at that time, the country was in a very serious state and was very concerned.
Judge Durcan stated that what Ms. O’Keeffe did was extremely reckless in the extreme.
Hassett told the court that O’Keeffe panicked when he told Gardai he was on his way to see a sick relative in Galway.
Mr. Hassett stated that Ms. O’Keeffe regrets saying that and regrets getting on the bus.
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