An Garda Síochána has issued approximately 7,950 Covid-19 fines across the range of all COVID-19 breaches.

As of close of business yesterday (February 18 2021), the following number of fines had been issued:

• 6,297 €100 fines for non-essential travel
  
• 263 €500 fines for non-essential journeys to airports/ports – the total number of €100 and €500 fines for non-essential journeys to airports/ports is 638 
• 197 €500 fines for organising a house party
• 747 €150 fines for attending a house party
• 155 €80 fines for not wearing a face covering

Further data on COVID-19 fines include age, gender, and divisional breakdown is available on https://garda.ie//!3FXU8D.

An Garda Siochana has also updated data on other Covid-19 offences on our website which shows that 620 court prosecutions have been initiated to date following consultation with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution.

Fines for non-essential cross-border travel in this jurisdiction came into operation on Monday morning, February 8 2021. Traffic data over last weekend showed approximately a 23% decrease in cross border travel compared to previous weekends.

An Garda Síochána continues to find groups gathering (house parties, social gatherings, exercise etc….) in breach of Regulations. These are not just breaches of regulations but are a risk to the individuals involved, their families and loved ones, and continue to put everybody’s health and the recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic at risk. Recent surveys have shown that the majority of people believe that they are doing the right thing, but the reality is that the level of casual contacts remains high.

An Garda Síochána will be continuing nationwide checkpoints and high visibility patrols at public amenities across the country this weekend in support of public health regulations.

In enforcing these regulations, Gardaí have been using the 4Es approach – engaging, explaining, and encouraging with enforcement a last resort.
An Garda Síochána continues to appeal to the public to plan their activities in accordance with Regulations and guidelines.

Current regulations and guidelines are still to stay at home and reduce your contacts, only exercise within 5km of your home.

An Garda Síochána continues to remind persons subject to domestic violence – Travel restrictions DO NOT APPLY in the case of domestic violence or to escape a risk of harm, whether to the person or to another person.

An Garda Síochána continues to appeal to any person who may have been the victim of an incident of sexual or domestic crime irrespective of whether you may have been in breach of any public health regulations, for instance by attending a house party, An Garda Síochána is here to assist and support you, please report all such incidents.

Speaking today, Deputy Commissioner, Policing and Security, John Twomey said:

This week the tragic milestone of 4,000 COVID-19 deaths was reached. That is 4,000 people that were loved. That is 4,000 people that had family, friends and neighbours. That is 4,000 of our fellow citizens.

While the vast majority of people are heeding the advice, there are still some who are not complying with public health regulations. In doing so, they are putting themselves, those they love, and those they know at risk of catching of a virus that could, unfortunately, result in serious illness or death.

We all have an individual and collective responsibility to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Please stay home, reduce your contacts, maintain social distancing, and wash your hands.

Notes

The total number of fines issued as of close of business yesterday (February 18 2021) is made up of 7,697 fines that have been processed and approximately 254 that are currently being checked and processed.

The number of fines issued per Division will vary depending on a number of factors including population size, the geographic area covered, local economy, travel patterns, and the public amenities in a particular Division.

A person who receives a fine can request an appeal. A COVID-19 FPN Cancellation Request Form and guidance notes are available on our website at www.garda.ie.

People issued with a COVID-19 related fine have 28 days to pay the fine.

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