Sunday 1 November 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 22920Movement of Persons offence (Covid travel restriction breach) · Co. Louth · 31 Jan 2021

78-year-old woman's Covid travel breach case struck out at Dundalk District Court

Jennifer Mortell, 78, of Balbriggan, had her case struck out at Dundalk District Court after being summoned for a Movement of Persons offence at St. Brigid's Shrine, Faughart, on 31 January 2021, on the basis that she was a journalist at the time.

  1. Reported
  2. Arrested
  3. Charged
  4. In court
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
10 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe defendant is a 78-year-old woman (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • whatShe travelled over 60 kilometres from her home when travel restrictions applied (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • whatA congregation had taken place in contravention of the regulations in force at the time (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • whatThe defendant claimed she was a journalist at the time (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • whereThe alleged offence occurred at St. Brigid's Shrine, Faughart (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • whereThe defendant lives at Castleland Court, Balbriggan (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • whenThe incident occurred on 31 January 2021 (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • chargeThe charge was a Movement of Persons offence (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • courtThe defendant submitted a sworn affidavit two weeks before the hearing (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • courtJudge Vincent Deane struck out the case on the basis of the defendant's technical legal point (dundalkdemocrat.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 13 Jan2023
    Otherdundalkdemocrat.ie, first report
    Dundalk court: A 78-year-old woman prosecuted for Covid travel breach who claimed she was a journalist has case struck out

    Reports that Judge Vincent Deane struck out the case on the basis of the defendant's claim that she was a journalist at the time, which raised a technical legal point.

    accused, Jennifer Mortell, 78, female, namedJennifer Mortell