Gardai Issues First Closure Order to Post in Northwest Country After Repeated Covid-19 Violations

A PUB in North West Ireland has become the first licensed establishment to be issued with a closure order for violating Covid regulations.

Gardai issued the order over the weekend after witnessing breaches of regulations despite repeated involvement by local officials at the facility.

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Some of the infractions included failure to serve a substantial meal with alcohol and “failure to adhere to public health guidelines.”

A local superintendent issued an ‘Immediate Closure Order’ for the remainder of the day it was issued.

Gardai carried out thousands of restaurant and gourmet pub inspections across the country this past weekend.

Police say most of the facilities reviewed were within the guidelines, however several violations were detected.

At one of the Dublin facilities, between 180 and 200 people were found inside with no food being served or no social distancing.

In another place in the capital, 25 people were found inside without social distancing or food served despite the fact that “fresh pints” were taken.

In the south of the country, a place with 30 people was found sitting inside with full drinks and no food.

PUB INSPECTIONS

The licensee was seen sitting at a table with clients without social distancing.

Gamblers at another table were seen huddled together, without the license holder or staff wearing masks.

There was no evidence that food was served and it was operating outside of the permitted hours.

The food preparation area was not found to be located on the premises, but rather adjacent to the smoking area in the rear under a gazebo.

In the northwest of the country, a hotel was inspected where around 100 people were found in a room without social distancing, without food, groups gathered at tables of 12 or more and several people intoxicated in the room.

The hotel lounge had around 50 people drinking with the similar reception area, while loads of cars were seen outside starting to arrive before returning.

A licensed facility in the same region showed little evidence of food being consumed by 80 people who drank alcohol.

There were no times in the contact tracking log while no order book was found.

HEALTH ‘AT RISK’

There were nine individual bills with an average of three meals in each with the dates changed. The kitchen was also inspected and no food was cooked.

In the east of the country, 20 people were found in a sports club with no food on the tables, no contact list, no chef present and the kitchen closed.

A house in the same area was searched under the Gaming and Lottery Law and an unlicensed organized gambling session was found with eight people present, all from different households.

Also in the east, a search was carried out on a suspected shebeen where 30 people were found socializing.

He did not cover his face, there was no social distancing and those present consumed “intoxicating liquor”.

Speaking today, Deputy Commissioner for Surveillance and Security, John Twomey, stated: “The vast majority of licensed premises are operating in accordance with public health regulations.

“Unfortunately, even though An Garda Síochána has said it several times before, unfortunately it seems that it should be said again to some authorized premises: authorized premises that do not comply with public health regulations are not only committing a crime, they are putting at risk to the health of its staff, its customers and its local community. “