Garda patrols encourage public compliance
WEXFORD Gardaí have been a visible presence on the streets and at various public amenities in the area over the past few days as they seek to enforce the newest measures imposed by the government last week to combat the spread of Covid-19.
Among the spots visited by gardaí and patrol vehicles were Curracloe beach, Kilmore Quay and The Rocks, while checkpoints were also set up at various locations around the town to remind people of their obligations in relation to preventing the spread of the potentially deadly virus.
‘We have had initial patrols going out to make sure that people are going along with the most recent government requests,’ said Inspector Graham Rowley.
‘Basically, we’ve been liaising with the general public and encouraging them to practice social distancing and to adhere to the latest advice given by the government and the department of health.’
Following An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar’s address to the nation on Friday night, people are asked to remain at home unless travelling to work in an essential service, to shop for food, to attend medical appointments or for farming purposes. People were also asked to limit ‘brief individual exercise’ to within 2km of their home, and gardaí in Wexford have periodically been checking on this and asking people to comply.
‘In general people have been very compliant and we’ve had no major issues so far,’ said Inspector Rowley. ‘We’re just trying to get the point across that this is for the betterment of all of us. We all have friends, relations and family members that could be seriously impacted by this. So we’re just trying to make people aware of their obligations and all our obligations.’
With Covid-19 now such a major concern, it was reported that last week a man was in custody in Wexford for spitting at a member of An Garda Síochána. While the Inspector was unaware of the exact details of this case, he said it is something that they are treating very seriously, as they would at any time.
‘Even if we didn’t have this, we’d have public order incidents of this type with lads spitting and that type of thing,’ he said. ‘We will deal with this as we would always deal with it. It’s totally irresponsible behaviour in any climate, but obviously it’s more serious at the moment and will be treated as such.’