Dubai Two ‘relaxing with their children’
Quarantine ordeal pair back home
THE Dubai Two have been reunited with their children after spending 10 days in mandatory hotel quarantine after being arrested for allegedly refusing to do so.
Niamh Mulreany, 25 and 30-year-old Kirstie Mcgrath, both from Dublin, were detained for alleged breaches to the Health Act on Good Friday after arriving into the country from the UAE.
Their arrest and subsequent court action has now resulted in a constitutional challenge, which is to be heard next Tuesday, against laws requiring persons to enter mandatory quarantine on their arrival into Ireland from certain countries.
The pair
are
also
being
held on continuing bail until their District Court case is to be heard on May 4.
A close family member said yesterday: “The girls are relaxing now at home with their children thankfully. It will take them some time to process what happened to them since arriving back in the country. At least they are back with their families now.”
The friends had been in Dubai for medical consultations. Both had tested negative to three PCR tests and an antibody exam prior to re-entering the country.
They were released on Tuesday night after testing negative to their seventh test. The women challenged their arrest at a special sitting of the High Court on Easter Sunday where judge Paul Burns ruled on relaxing their bail conditions following an appearance the previous day at Tallaght District Court. Their barristers had requested their clients be released from mandatory quarantine on humanitarian grounds as both have children.
Last week, Ms Mulreany’s mother said that the friends were being “treated worse than animals”.
The HSE were contacted for a response and advised the Department of Health were handling the matter.
A spokesperson said: “In order to protect confidentiality, the Department of Health does not comment on individual cases.
“At all times, our priority is to ensure that everyone completing their period of mandatory quarantine is comfortable and secure.”