Gardaí investigating anti-mask rally ‘can’t press Covid charges’

GARDAÍ are investigating a large anti-mask protest in Dublin over the weekend, but said they cannot charge anyone for ignoring Government regulations.

The protest began at Custom House Quay on Saturday and ended on Grafton Street, where speakers denounced coronavirus restrictions.

The Gardaí said that there was no permit required for such an event and that it had no role in arresting people for refusing to wear masks or socially distance.

‘An Garda Síochána has no role in permitting or authorising protest marches, there is no permit/authorisation required for such events. Individual attendance, social distancing, wearing of masks in public areas and other such public health guidelines are not penal regulations,’ it said in a statement.

The protests come as the country is experiencing hundreds of coronavirus cases per day and could be moved into a higher level of restrictions if cases continue to increase.

Speaking to the Irish Daily Mail, Dublin Sinn Féin TD Denise Mitchell said that there is concern right across Dublin about the increasing numbers. ‘Everybody is trying to do their best. I know there is great concern about people protesting. People should be allowed to protest, but I think it needs to be socially distanced and it needs to be done properly,’ she said.

‘It is really concerning the numbers nationally and all have to rally around together. We’ve done it before and we need to do it again.’

Those involved in the protest included two anti-restrictions and anti-mask groups, Health Freedom Ireland and Yellow Vest Ireland.

Speaking to the Mail, Fine Gael Dublin City Councillor, Danny Byrne, said that it was ‘very irresponsible’ for people to attend such events.

‘It’s disconcerting when you see some of these groups who, in my opinion, have hijacked our national flag and are really abusing it and I don’t think they have the interests of our country at heart,’ he said.

Cllr Byrne added that these groups just end up disrupting business down Grafton Street which can impact people’s livelihoods.

Speaking to the Mail, Professor of Public Health in DCU Anthony Staines said that opinion surveys conducted for the Department of

Health by Amárach Research have consistently shown that there is very substantial public support for what the Government is doing with regard to Covid-19 restrictions.

‘These people do represent a fraction of the population, but it’s a very small fraction,’ he said of the anti-restrictions protesters.

‘So what they’re trying to do, as they have done in other countries, is use this as a wedge issue.

‘This is a group of extremely marginalised [people] who are trying to bring a larger group of people with them. They’re using the symbols of our country. They’re using the Irish flag. They’re using the symbolism of the GPO all the time to serve their interests. One of my two grandfathers was inside the GPO on the first day of the Rising. My other grandfather was outside it waiting to meet some friends for a football match.

‘And I don’t think either of them would have any time for what was rampaging up and down Grafton Street,’ he said.

Prof Staines said that from a public health point of view, a large number of people together not socially distancing or wearing a mask is a risk.

But since it’s outdoors, the risk is mitigated somewhat.

‘As I said before, if you are going to do something stupid, do it outdoors,’ he said.

‘They have hijacked our national flag’