Saturday 31 October 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. 20722Breach of Covid-19 restrictions · Co. Dublin · 16 Mar 2021

Dublin man summonsed over sitting on boardwalk during 2021 Covid restrictions

Gerry Kelly, a man from Dublin, is alleged to have sat on the boardwalk in Dublin city on 16 March 2021, in breach of Covid-19 restrictions. Two female gardaí reportedly told him to move on, and he says he sat down again after moving away and gardaí returned. In 2023, about two years after the incident, he received a court summons, with the DPP prosecuting him under the Health Act 1947 and section 31A of the Covid-19 Temporary Restrictions 2020. Kelly has described the prosecution as extraordinary, and gardaí did not comment on his claims.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Charged13 Jun
  4. In court
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Gerry Kelly received a court summons in which the DPP is prosecuting him over an alleged breach of Covid-19 restrictions.
  • Two female gardaí reportedly approached Kelly and told him to move on.
  • Kelly says he sat down again after moving away and gardaí returned.
Where
The alleged incident took place on the boardwalk in Dublin city.
When
The alleged incident is dated to 16 March 2021.
Cause
The alleged offence is sitting on the boardwalk during Covid-19 restrictions.
Charges
The summons relates to an alleged breach of the Health Act 1947 and section 31A of the Covid-19 Temporary Restrictions 2020.
In court
Kelly received the summons about two years after the incident, as reported in June 2023.
Other details
  • Kelly says others on the boardwalk were keeping about 2m apart and the area was not overcrowded.
  • Kelly described the prosecution as extraordinary and said he was astonished by it.
Investigation
Gript did not get a comment from gardaí, and An Garda Síochána did not comment on Kelly's claims.
8 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatKelly received a summons from the court services advising that the DPP are prosecuting him. (gript.ie)
  • whatTwo female gardaí approached Kelly and told him to move on. (gript.ie)
  • whatKelly says he sat down again after moving away, and gardaí returned. (gript.ie)
  • whereThe alleged incident took place on the boardwalk in Dublin city. (gript.ie)
  • whenKelly says he was sitting on the boardwalk on 16 March 2021. (gript.ie)
  • chargeThe summons relates to an alleged breach of the 1947 Health Act and section 31A of Covid 19 Temporary Restrictions, 2020. (gript.ie)
  • otherKelly says others on the boardwalk were keeping about 2m apart and the area was not overcrowded. (gript.ie)
  • otherAn Garda Síochána did not comment on the claims in the article. (gript.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 13 Jun2023
    Chargedgript.ie, first report
    Dublin man “astonished” at court summons in relation to sitting on the boardwalk in 2021 - Gript

    Kelly says he received a summons two years after the alleged incident and describes the prosecution as extraordinary. Gript did not get a comment from gardaí.

    accused, Gerry Kelly, male, named, irish (judged from name)Gerry Kelly