Gym owner charged with Covid rules breach bailed
A NEWRY gym owner charged with breaking coronavirus regulations by allegedly allowing people to use his facility has told a District Judge that he will challenge the courts.
Declan Trainor, from Rossmara Park in Warrenpoint, is charged with contravening the Executive’s Covid-19 rules on dates between November 27 and December 1.
The 32-year-old was granted £250 bail last week on the same charges.
However, he reappeared in court on a fresh bail application, the details of which were not opened.
A PSNI constable told the hearing she could confirm the defendant was being held at Banbridge custody suite.
The constable also told Newry Courthouse she believed she could connect the accused to the charges.
Trainor appeared at the hearing via videolink from police custody.
A prosecution lawyer said there was no objection to bail.
District Judge Eamonn King asked Trainor, who was representing himself in the case, if he had anything to say about
the matter before the court. “Yes, I do indeed. My name is Declan. I am a living man,” the defendant replied.
Trainor went on to state that he had left files with the court for the judge to fill out.
He explained that he was seeking to establish evidence and challenge the validity of the charges he faces.
The defendant then gave the court 28 days to comply.
Trainor was charged after a PSNI operation at his gym on the Armagh Road in Newry on November 27.
After entering the premises, police issued a Covid 2 prohibition notice and a Covid 5 penalty notice.
Officers then called to the gym a number of times over the following days.
During that period, they issued a number of Covid 4 penalty notices to people using the facility in breach of the Executive’s regulations.
District Judge King informed the defendant that the most recent hearing was not a trial, but merely to determine bail.
“That is bail at £2,500 cash, which must be lodged before he is released,” he said.
Trainor was freed and the case adjourned to January 6.