Kilkenny pubs that flout reopening rules could lose licence: Gardai

Kilkenny pubs that ignore public health guidelines in the aftermath of the lockdown could lose their licence, gardai have warned.

An Garda Síochána said it has begun to conduct checks of licenced premises nationwide to make sure they are in compilance with the law.

It follows concerns from Garda management, the public and industry representative bodies that some licensed premises and their customers have not been adhering to the public health guidelines since the re-opening of licensed premises last Monday.

The operation, codenamed Operation Navigation. came into effect 7pm last night

Deputy Commissioner of Policing and Security, John Twomey, said, “When licenced premises were initially shut under the public health guidelines An Garda Síochána checked thousands of licensed premises to ensure they remained closed, which the vast, vast majority did. Our intention in this latest phase was to conduct a large number of spot-checks of licensed premises.

“However, it now appears that just a few days after their introduction some licensed premises and their customers are ignoring the public health guidelines. By doing so, they are putting themselves and everyone they then come into contact with at risk of getting Covid-19. This is not acceptable and we are now expanding our planned checks.”

Deputy Commissioner Twomey said an operational order to all local Garda managers that licensed premises in their area operating at the moment will be checked for adherence to The Health Act 1947 (Section 31A-Temporary Restrictions) (COVID-19) (No.3) Regulations 2020.

In a statement, gardai said the force “has and will continue to, adopt, a graduated policing response based on its tradition of policing by consent, adding: “This has seen Garda members engage, educate, encourage and, as a last resort, enforce.”

The statement added: “The Health Act 1947 (Section 31A-Temporary Restrictions) (COVID-19) (No.3) Regulations 2020 are currently in effect until the 20th July 2020, which set out certain penal provisions.  Social distancing and other similar public health guidelines are not penal provisions.

“Where potential breaches of the Public Health Regulations are identified, and where a person does not come into compliance with the regulations, a file is submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions for a direction as to how to proceed.

“In addition, under liquor licensing laws, a licensed premises requires a declaration of suitability from a member of An Garda Síochána in order for its liquor license to be renewed.”