Gardai handed tough new powers to deal with pubs breaching safety regulations

GARDAI will receive tough new powers to shut pubs which break the Republic’s coronavirus rules, the Irish government said.

Fines of up to €2,500 (£2,230) or a maximum of six months in prison will be the sanction if bars infringing social distancing regulations refuse to close for a day.

Closure orders could be issued by a district court resulting in a pub being shut for up to 30 days.

Justice minister Helen Mcentee said: “We see that the cases are starting to increase.

“This will give gardai an ability to stop things in their tracks before they get out of hand.”

Nine licensed premises in Northern Ireland have been issued with prohibition notices by the PSNI for breaches.

The notices were issued to premises in counties Down, Fermanagh, Londonderry and Tyrone since restaurants and bars which sell food were permitted to reopen here on July 3.

A PSNI spokesman said the premises which have received notices include one in Coleraine on July 8, one in Bangor on July 12, one in Moy on August 7, one in Banbridge on August 21, two in Rosslea on August 21 and 22, one in Tempo on August 22, and two in Irvinestown on August 23 and 24.

Assistant chief constable Alan Todd said officers are engaging with licensees over their responsibilities under the coronavirus regulations.

“We, as a service, are guided by the Licensing (NI) Order 1996 and the Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) Regulations NI 2020 to ensure laws are upheld and people are kept safe,” he said.

“We have been, and we will continue to work with licensees across Northern Ireland to ensure our community can socialise in a safe environment.

“Where we receive complaints, we will engage with licensees around potential breaches of both the Licensing (NI) Order 1996 and the Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) Regulations NI 2020.”