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Gardaí issued the first “immediate closure order” against a pub over the weekend for repeatedly failing to comply with Covid-19 restrictions.
The Garda released details of the order along with other examples of licensed venues it found to be breaking the rules within the past 48 hours.
These include a Dublin pub with up to 200 people on site at 10:30 PM. M. No food or social distancing, and a hotel in the Northwest with 100 people in its function room, another 50 in the ground floor room, and cars that continue to arrive as Gardaí attended.
Other violations detected across the country included bar staff tampering with food receipts, serving reheated pizzas as a substantial meal, and operating a shebeen with 30 people present.
In one incident, the Garda used gambling legislation to search a private home where a card game was taking place. Inside were eight people from eight different households.
Under the Level 3 restriction, pubs must serve a large meal, prepared on site, in order to serve alcohol. They must also close at 11:30 p.m. and comply with other public health measures.
Section 4 of the Criminal Justice (Enforcement Powers) Act (Covid-19) of 2020 gives gardaí the power to immediately shut down a venue found in violation of the rules.
In most cases to date, Gardaí has been encouraging bar owners to comply with the rules rather than taking legal action. However, over the weekend Gardaí in the northwest of the country chose to issue the first immediate closure order against a local.
The order was issued after gardaí repeatedly engaged the pub owner to comply. In a statement, the Garda said officials continued to observe violations of Covid-19 regulations, including refusal to serve substantial meals and non-compliance with public health guidelines.
This prompted the local superintendent to order the pub to be closed immediately. A file will be sent to the Director of the Public Ministry.
“The vast majority of licensed facilities are operating in accordance with public health regulations. Unfortunately, even though An Garda Síochána has said it several times before, it unfortunately seems like it needs to be said again to some authorized locals, ”said Deputy Commissioner John Twomey.
“Licensed venues that do not comply with public health regulations are not only committing a crime, they are putting the health of their staff, their customers and their local community at risk.”
Other infractions detected by the Garda during the weekend are detailed below.
Dublin Region
• A licensed venue with 180-200 people present. No food was served and no social distancing was evident.
• A licensed premises inspected at 1.30 am with 25 people inside and fresh pints drawn. No food was served and no social distancing was evident.
In the southern region
• A pub inspected at 12.35 pm. Thirty people were sitting inside with full drinks and no food.
• A pub with 20-25 people sitting inside after hours with cool drinks. The owner was sitting at a table with customers and there was no social distancing. Drinkers at another table were “observed in a group talking in arms.” The staff did not wear face masks and there was no evidence of any food service.
• A pub where the food preparation area was not located on the premises, but under a gazebo next to the smoking area.
• A pub where food preparation consisted of an oven used to heat pizzas.
Northwest Region
• A hotel had 100 people in the assembly hall and another 50 in the lobby. “No social distancing, no food, groups gathered at tables of 12 or more, several intoxicated people in the room,” said the Garda. The cars continued to arrive at the hotel while gardaí were there and had to be returned.
• A pub with 80 people inside and little evidence of food consumption. There were no times in the contact tracing record or the food order book. The staff produced nine individual food receipts with an average of three meals in each. However, the dates of these had changed. An inspection of the kitchen showed that no food was being cooked.
Eastern region
• A sports club with 20 people present. There was no food on the tables, no chef present, and no contact tracking list.
• A house that was registered under the Gaming and Lottery Law. Inside were eight people playing a card game, all from different households.
• A suspected shebeen with 30 people present. “People did not cover their faces, they did not distance themselves socially and they consumed intoxicating liquor, evidence seized.”
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