Wednesday 28 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. 2366Breach of mandatory hotel quarantine (Health (Amendment) Act 2021, s.38) · Co. Dublin · 2 Apr 2021

Dublin women 'Dubai two' to face trial for breaching mandatory hotel quarantine

Kirstie McGrath, 33, and Niamh Mulreany, 28, will face trial at Dublin District Court on 15 April 2025 for breaching section 38 of the Health (Amendment) Act 2021 after refusing to enter mandatory hotel quarantine upon returning from Dubai in April 2021. Their Supreme Court constitutional challenge to the quarantine legislation was dismissed in September 2024.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court10 Feb
    2 reports
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
29 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatTwo women failed to halt their prosecution for refusing to enter hotel quarantine after returning from Dubai during the Covid-19 pandemic (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThey had travelled to Dubai where they claimed they intended to undergo cosmetic surgery but ultimately did not (irishtimes.com)
  • whatA bail hearing on 3 April 2021 heard they had travelled abroad to have breast enhancement surgery (irishtimes.com)
  • whatGardaí allegedly spent two hours trying to explain the pandemic regulations to the women (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe women claimed they did not know about the pandemic regulations (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe defence said the two women had provided three negative PCR tests for Covid-19 taken in the week before their return (irishtimes.com)
  • whatTwo Dublin women are facing trial for refusing to enter mandatory hotel quarantine after returning from Dubai (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe women went to Dubai for breast enhancement surgery but did not get the procedure (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereNiamh Mulreany, 28, lives at Scarlett Row, Essex Street West, Dublin 2 (irishtimes.com)
  • whereKirstie McGrath lives at St Anthony's Road, Dublin 8 (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereNiamh Mulreany lives at Scarlett Row, Essex Street West, Dublin 2 (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThey were arrested on 2 April 2021 at Dublin Airport (irishtimes.com)
  • whenBoth women were arrested on the afternoon of 2 April 2021 at Terminal 2, Dublin Airport (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeThey were charged with breaching section 38 of the Health (Amendment) Act 2021 (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeThe defence pleaded not guilty (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe Supreme Court dismissed their constitutional challenge in September (irishtimes.com)
  • courtCriminal proceedings resumed at Dublin District Court the month before the article (irishtimes.com)
  • courtSolicitor Michael French informed the judge his clients were pleading not guilty (irishtimes.com)
  • courtJudge John Hughes ordered prosecution evidence to be handed over and set the hearing for 15 April (irishtimes.com)
  • courtA district court bail hearing took place on 3 April 2021 (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtTheir Supreme Court constitutional challenge to the quarantine legislation was dismissed in September (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtCriminal proceedings resumed at Dublin District Court in January 2025 (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtJudge John Hughes ordered the hearing to take place on 15 April (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe High Court removed the requirement for sureties and allowed them to go to the quarantine hotel for ten days (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceThe offence can result in fines of up to €2,000 and a month in jail (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe law was temporarily in force to halt the spread of Covid-19 (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherGardaí allegedly tried explaining the new regulations to the women for two hours (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherBail was initially set at €2,800 and they were remanded in custody (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe women provided three negative PCR tests the week before their return (irishmirror.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 10 Feb2025
    In courtirishmirror.ie, first report
    Irish women dubbed ‘Dubai two’ to face trial for breaking Covid quarantine laws

    Reports that the two women's criminal proceedings have resumed at Dublin District Court after their Supreme Court challenge was dismissed, with a trial hearing set for 15 April 2025. Details the original arrest, the constitutional challenge, and the initial bail proceedings.

    accused, Kirstie McGrath, 33, female, named, irish (judged from name)Kirstie McGrathaccused, Niamh Mulreany, 28, female, named, irish (judged from name)Niamh Mulreany
  2. 10 Feb2025
    In courtirishtimes.com, follow-up
    Women to face trial for refusing to enter quarantine on return from Dubai during Covid-19 pandemic

    Trial date set for 15 April 2025; Judge John Hughes ordered disclosure of prosecution evidence; Supreme Court dismissed constitutional challenge in September; criminal proceedings resumed at Dublin District Court; defence says women provided three negative PCR tests.

    suspect, Kirstie McGrath, 33, female, named, irish (judged from name)Kirstie McGrathsuspect, Niamh Mulreany, 28, female, named, irish (judged from name)Niamh Mulreany