Enniscorthy resident jailed for breaching Covid-19 regulations
THE first person to be charged with offences under new emergency powers enacted to enforce public compliance with Covid-19 travel restrictions has been jailed for three months.
Denis Constantin (24), of Shingaun, Enniscorthy, admitted two charges after he was stopped twice at checkpoints in Co Wexford by gardaí over the Easter bank holiday weekend, more than 2km from his home and without a valid reason. The two offences that the Romanian was convicted of are contrary to Section 31A(6)(a) and (12) of the Health Act 1947 (as amended by Section 10 of the Health (Preservation and Protection and other Emergency Measures in the Public Interest) Act 2020).
The charge read that he contravened a regulation made under Section 31A(1) of the Health Act 1947 as amended, to prevent, limit, minimise or slow the spread of Covid-19.
He was given a three-month jail sentence for each breach of the emergency powers, but these are to run concurrently, meaning a total of three months’ imprisonment for the coronavirus breaches.
Constantin also pleaded guilty to four charges of driving without insurance and four charges of driving while disqualified. Combined, he was given a threemonth jail sentence for the driving offences and was disqualified from driving for 28 years, as well as another threemonth concurrent sentence for these offences.
In total, he was jailed for six months for the combined offences.
Judge Brian O’Shea said the offences were at the top end of the scale, considering he was also driving without insurance.
Constantin was stopped at a Garda Covid checkpoint at Bunclody on Good Friday driving a car while disqualified and while more than 2km from his home without a valid reason. He was not arrested on that occasion, but was arrested on Easter Monday after encountering another Garda Covid checkpoint near New Ross, which was located more than 2km from his home.
Gardaí then consulted with the DPP on the case and Constantin became the first person in Ireland to be charged under the new temporary laws.
Inspector Syl Hipwell from Enniscorthy garda station, outlined the facts of the case in Gorey District Court, sitting in Wexford on Tuesday, April 21.