Stay home to stay safe this St. Patrick’s Day
AN Garda Síochána is advising people to stay home to stay safe this St. Patrick’s Day and avoid large gatherings and house parties.
Despite constant and consistent public health advice, they continue to find people gathering in large groups at social occasions and at house parties. Such events put those attending, and everyone they meet afterwards, at risk of catching Covid-19.
As of March 12, An Garda Síochána had issued 429 €500 fines for organising a house party and 1,677 €150 fines for attending such an event.
On St. Patrick’s Day, at any one time, more than 2,500 gardaí will be on duty across the country. They will be engaged in a wide range of activity to support public health measures.
This includes high visibility patrolling at public amenities; conducting checkpoints focused on non-essential travel and people exercising outside 5km of their home; road safety activity; managing any large gatherings that may occur, and providing support for the vulnerable including victims of domestic abuse.
Multiple protest events are being planned on social media in different locations in Dublin city centre, which will require a significant garda policing operation. An Garda Síochána is advising the public to refrain from any non-essential journeys to the city centre on the day as restrictions and cordons will be in place that may hinder easy movement around the city.
In relation to these protest events, a policing plan is in place and An Garda Síochána will be deploying a large number of personnel supported by national units such as the dog unit, the mounted unit, air support, and public order.
In addition, checkpoints will be in place on arterial routes into the city and checks will be conducted on public transport over the course of St. Patrick’s Day.
In line with public health advice, in the first instance, An Garda Síochána would ask people not to organise or attend such protests.
Speaking today, Deputy Commissioner, Policing and Security, Anne Marie McMahon said: “While it won’t be a normal St. Patrick’s Day, we can still all enjoy the day safely at home.
“Staying home this St. Patrick’s Day is the best thing people can do for their country and the best thing they can do for the people they know and love.”
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.