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Investigation under way after large gathering at Four Courts

People gathered outside Four Courts in Dublin yesterday (Pic: Tom Honan/Irish Times)
People gathered outside Four Courts in Dublin yesterday (Pic: Tom Honan/Irish Times)

An investigation is under way into a large gathering at the Four Courts in Dublin city centre yesterday.

The group gathered for the High Court challenge by former journalists Gemma O'Doherty and John Waters against the restrictions imposed by the Government in response to Covid-19.

Gardaí said they attended the scene and asked the group to disperse because of concerns over adherence to the Government instructions on non-essential journeys and social distancing.

Garda headquarters said all persons were asked to disperse, a number of people initially failed to comply and the names of some of those present were taken "along with other evidence".

Gardaí also said the group eventually dispersed and no arrests were made, but "investigations are continuing".

The court service has strongly criticised the gathering "in large numbers" which it said endangered gardaí, court staff, court users, and the people themselves.

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In relation to a protest outside Debenhams on Henry Street, gardaí said they also attended a planned demonstration yesterday morning and asked the group to disperse because of similar concerns over adherence to Government instructions.

Gardaí said all persons left without incident. 

The actions of gardaí at Henry Street have been strongly criticised by the People Before Profit TD Brid Smith who has described them as "an outrageous abuse of the emergency powers and totally unnecessary".

Ms Smith said the group was practicing social distancing and observing all necessary etiquette and said she would be seeking clarification from the Government and the Minister for Justice for what she terms "the abuse of Covid-19 legislation".