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. 6575Breach of Covid travel regulations (alleged) · Co. Dublin · 17 Apr 2021

Father and son ordered to pay costs in Dublin Covid travel case

Nicolae and Florin Mazarache, a father and son from Clondalkin, Dublin, were stopped at Dublin Airport by a garda on 17 April 2021 while travelling to Spain to visit family, and were issued fixed penalty notices alleging a breach of Covid travel regulations under the 1947 Health Act. They refused to pay the €2,000 penalty and instead brought judicial review proceedings, arguing the notices failed to specify the offence. In February 2024 the High Court dismissed their challenge, and in October 2025 the Court of Appeal dismissed their appeal. In February 2026 the Court of Appeal ordered them to pay the State's legal costs.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court9 Feb
    2 reports
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
A father and son were stopped at Dublin Airport by a garda while travelling to Spain to visit family and issued fixed penalty notices alleging a breach of Covid travel regulations.
Where
Dublin Airport, Dublin.
When
17 April 2021.
Charges
The notices alleged an offence of movement of persons at a port or airport, contrary to the 1947 Health Act (as amended).
In court
  • In February 2024 the High Court dismissed their judicial review, finding the notices did not comply with statutory requirements but did not amount to a legal frailty breaching fair procedures.
  • In October 2025 the Court of Appeal dismissed their appeal.
Sentence
A fixed payment of €2,000 was applied, and in February 2026 the Court of Appeal ordered them to pay the State's legal costs.
Other details
  • The men argued the notices failed to specify or particularise the offence, which was unfair.
  • If the fixed payment was not paid within 28 days, the case would go before the District Court where a conviction could carry a fine of up to €4,000 and/or one month's imprisonment.
28 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatA father and son failed in a High Court challenge to fixed penalty notices. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThey were allegedly breaching Covid regulations by travelling to Dublin Airport in 2021. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThey were stopped at Dublin Airport by a garda. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThey were stopped by a garda at Dublin Airport. (thejournal.ie)
  • whereThey were stopped by a garda at the airport. (rte.ie)
  • whereThe alleged breach was travelling to Dublin Airport in 2021. (rte.ie)
  • whenThey were travelling to Spain on April 17th, 2021. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe men were travelling to Spain to visit family on 17 April 2021. (thejournal.ie)
  • whenThe father and son were travelling to Spain to visit family on 17 April 2021. (rte.ie)
  • chargeThe notices alleged an offence of movement of persons at a port or airport, contrary to the 1947 Health Act (as amended). (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeThey were issued notices alleging they had committed an offence of movement of persons at a port or airport contrary to the 1947 Health Act (as amended). (thejournal.ie)
  • chargeThey were issued notices alleging they committed an offence of movement of persons at a port or airport under the 1947 Health Act. (rte.ie)
  • courtThe men did not pay and instead brought judicial review proceedings. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThey argued the notices failed to specify or particularise the offence, which was unfair. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe respondents were the Garda Commissioner, the DPP and the Minister for Health, and they opposed the challenge. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtMs Justice Nuala Jackson dismissed the case and lifted an injunction halting the District Court prosecution. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe men did not pay the fixed penalty and instead brought judicial review proceedings. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtIn February 2024 the High Court dismissed the judicial review and lifted an injunction halting the District Court prosecution. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe Court of Appeal dismissed their appeal in October 2025. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtIn February 2024 the High Court dismissed their judicial review application. (rte.ie)
  • courtThe Court of Appeal dismissed their appeal last October. (rte.ie)
  • sentenceA fixed payment of €2,000 was applied. (irishtimes.com, thejournal.ie, rte.ie)
  • sentenceThe appellants were ordered to pay the costs of the State's legal representatives. (thejournal.ie, rte.ie)
  • otherIf the fixed payment was not paid within 28 days, the case would go before the District Court, where a conviction could carry a fine of up to €4,000 and/or one month's imprisonment. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe judge found the notices did not comply with statutory requirements but did not amount to a legal frailty breaching fair procedures. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherAny deficiencies in the fixed notice process are matters for the District Court to address. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe court found the case did not meet the requirements of exceptional conditions. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherThe men chose not to pay the fixed penalty and brought judicial review proceedings. (rte.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 26 Feb2026
    In courtrte.ie, first report
    Father, son lose court appeal challenge over Covid fines

    Reports the Court of Appeal costs ruling in the Mazarache case, after the Court of Appeal dismissed their appeal last October. The article adds that the appellants were ordered to pay the State's legal costs.

    suspect, non-irish (judged from name)suspect, Florin Mazarache, named, non-irish (judged from name)Florin Mazarache
  2. 1 Feb2026
    Otherthejournal.ie, first report
    Father and son who lost appeal over air travel during Covid ordered to pay State's legal costs

    Reports a costs hearing at the Court of Appeal on 26 February 2026, after the appeal was dismissed in October 2025. The Mazaraches had refused to pay a €2,000 fixed penalty and brought judicial review proceedings instead.

    accusedaccused, Florin Mazarache, namedFlorin Mazarache
  3. 9 Feb2024
    In courtirishtimes.com, first report
    Father and son fail in High Court challenge to Covid travel fixed penalty notices

    Reports the High Court judgment dismissing the judicial review of the fixed penalty notices, and that the District Court prosecution can proceed.

    suspectsuspect, Florin Mazarache, namedFlorin Mazarache