Gardaí Fine Westmeath Man Found Driving In West Cork

Last week saw a bizarre story emerge of an incident in Dublin, when Gardaí stopped and fined three men who had driven nearly 80km from Meath to collect burgers from a takeaway in Ringsend – and it appears similiar shenanigans have been occurring across the country.

Gardaí were called to the scene of a bowling event in Burnfort, West Cork on Sunday, where more than 50 people were reportedly in attendance. The event was reportedly taking place along the roads of Bottlehill, just south of Burnfort and Gardaí took details for many of the participants.

The country is under a strict Level 5 lockdown in the face of high rates of COVID-19 and community transmission, with clear advice being given at a national level to stay at home and not to mix with any other households – unless you happen to be a bowling fan from Cork, it seems.

Cork hasn’t been the only site of fines and reprimands, however, as 100 fines were also handed out in County Wicklow over the weekend – almost three times as many fines as had been handed out nationwide up to then. Many motorists appeared to be travelling from neighbouring counties to take in the scenery of the Wicklow Mountains. Gardaí in Wicklow, Cork, and across the country are appealing for people to stay at home and to travel no more than 5 kilometres, unless it is for essential purposes such as work or healthcare.