A former Garda Assistant Commissioner has said there is no need for increased Garda powers following public outrage to footage of COVID-19 breaches in a busy Dublin restaurant last week.
A video of a man standing on the bar at the Berlin D2 on Dame Lane and pouring alcohol into people’s mouths last Friday has been labelled "outrageous and appalling."
The Licenced Vintners Association (LVA) has called for a thorough investigation in the incident and the acting Chief Medical Officer Dr Ronan Glynn has criticised people for socialising “recklessly.”
On Newstalk Breakfast this morning, former Assistant Garda Commissioner Pat Leahy said the video will be investigated.
“I suppose the public reaction overall has been a visceral one and rightly so,” he said.
“I mean, look, the scenes that were observed on national TV are just unacceptable in the current context.”
"Draconian" powers
He said the regulations that were brought back in March are “quite draconian” and rejected calls for Gardaí to be handed increased powers.
“It gives the power to arrest people for behaviour that we never had a power of arrest for before in this country,” he said.
“It allows us to restrict people’s movements, close down businesses; it is really, really draconian legislation – something that we could never have envisaged pre-COVID so there has to be safe-guards in place to ensure the legislation is used appropriately.”
Gatekeeper
Dr Leahy said Gardaí can only charge people under the legislation following a full investigation and with the permission of the DPP.
“The Government when they developed this legislation were keen to avoid people being criminalised without it being fully investigated,” he said.
“The DPP has been placed in there as the gatekeeper to consider this in the full light of day without emotion.”
Dr Leahy said Gardaí have rightly taken a graduated response to the COVID-19 regulations since they were introduced – with engagement, education and encouragement all coming before enforcement.
“I think we have to look at the overwhelming majority of people who are abiding by the law and are taking the advice of Government and the HSE in relation to this,” he said. “It is really the overwhelming majority.
“It is unfortunate when we see scenes that really go against all that we have sacrificed across the country in relation to the current context but it is the outlier and that has to be acknowledged.”
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