The Garda Commissioner, Drew Harris,
has urged cyclists not to go on long bike rides this weekend due to the Covid19
restrictions in place.
He said a “small minority” of people, but an “increasing number”, were now beginning to ignore the restrictions.
Mr Harris added people should not visit holiday homes or go on Easter home visits unless for “critical needs”. They should also not make any non-essential journeys over the coming Bank Holiday Weekend, including cyclists in his message.
“We are seeing some element of cyclists traveling further than 2km from their place of residence,” he said.
“Again, we say, that’s to stop; you exercise within 2km of your home only.”
The Garda had previously said they had come across cyclists out riding in Dublin-Wicklow who were up to 50km from home.
Advertisement
Walkers and drivers had also been encountered at Garda checkpoints a long way from their homes and all had been told to return there.
Related News
Mr Harris's comments on cyclists today formed part of a wider message to everyone in the country about Covid19 as a new Garda operation was being put in place, up run up to midnight next Monday.
“What we’re seeing is the discipline
required to live by this medical advice is starting to slip a little,” Mr
Harris said.
“We’re seeing things like people
exercising more than 2km from their home. We’re seeing people moving for
non-essential reasons and we’re also seeing house parties.
“So these are areas we feel may need
the regulations in terms of enforcing the restrictions that are in place.”
He added there would be checkpoints
through the country and that wider Garda campaign with more than 2,000 officers
involved would be working this weekend to ensure people complied with the
Covid19 restrictions.
“If you are stopped you will ask to
return to your place of residence,” he said, though the gardai did not expect
to carry out large scale arrests.
Instead, gardai would speak to
people, persuade them to do the right thing and advise them about the public
health measures in place.
If people refused to go home when spoken to, they could face prosecution under new regulations introduced on Tuesday night. These carry penalties of up to €2,500 in fines and up to six months in prison.
Topics
