Two Dublin women who failed to block their trial for refusing to enter mandatory hotel quarantine after returning from a trip to Dubai during the Covid-19 pandemic are pleading not guilty, a court has heard.
Mother of two Kirstie McGrath (33) with an address at St Anthony’s Road, Dublin 8 and Niamh Mulreany (28), a mother of one from Scarlett Row, Essex Street West, Dublin 2, were both arrested on the afternoon of April 2nd, 2021 in Dublin Airport.
The two friends had gone to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, where they claimed they intended to undergo cosmetic surgery but ultimately did not have any procedures.
On their return to Ireland, they were charged with breaching section 38 of the Health (Amendment) Act 2021, which can result in fines of up to €2,000 and a month in jail.
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The law had been temporarily in force at the time and was intended to halt the spread of Covid-19.
A District Court bail hearing on April 3rd, 2021 heard they went abroad for breast enhancement surgery.
In a bid to halt the criminal proceedings, their lawyers had brought a legal challenge over the constitutionality of the legislation surrounding the mandatory hotel quarantine system.
The Supreme Court dismissed their action in September.
Yesterday, the criminal proceedings resumed at Dublin District Court, but the defendants did not have to attend.
The court’s presenter, Sgt Derek Spain, agreed that the case had been going on for a long time and described it as a “saga” that had awaited the Supreme Court’s decision.
Their defence solicitor, Michael French, told Judge Treasa Kelly that his clients were pleading not guilty and seeking a hearing date.
Judge Kelly noted they would contest the case and ordered the disclosure of prosecution evidence to the defence. The women’s non-jury District Court trial is scheduled for February 10th next.
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