Ireland Gardaí investigating pub gathering at Kilgarvan bar
A wedding party of at least 38 people was held indoors at the Jackie Healy-Rae Bar in Kilgarvan, Co. Kerry, on 16 July 2021, ten days before indoor hospitality was permitted to reopen. Photos and videos posted online showed the crowd without face coverings or social distancing, with pub owner Danny Healy-Rae, a man and Independent TD for Kerry, pulling pints from behind the bar. His brother Michael Healy-Rae was also present at the gathering, which was held for his son Patrick's wedding. Gardaí made preliminary inquiries in early August 2021 and confirmed on 19 August that a formal investigation into the alleged breach of public health regulations had been launched.
- Reported6 Aug
5 reports - Arrested
- Charged
- In court
- Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- A wedding party of at least 38 people (described as about 30 in some reports) was held indoors at the pub with no face coverings or social distancing observed.
- Danny Healy-Rae, a man and Independent TD for Kerry, was photographed pulling pints from behind the bar while the crowd gathered.
- His brother Michael Healy-Rae was present at the gathering, which was held for his son Patrick's wedding.
- Separate video footage showed a maskless Danny Healy-Rae dancing with a punter outside the bar, unrelated to the wedding party.
- Where
- The gathering took place at the Jackie Healy-Rae Bar in Kilgarvan, Co. Kerry.
- When
- The gathering took place on 16 July 2021, ten days before indoor hospitality was permitted to reopen on 26 July 2021.
- Investigation
- Gardaí made preliminary inquiries in early August 2021 to confirm when the gathering took place and whether public health guidelines were breached.
- On 19 August 2021, Gardaí confirmed a formal investigation had been launched into the matter.
- Other details
- No complaint had been made and no formal investigation had commenced as of 6 August 2021.
- Danny Healy-Rae refused to comment when contacted by media.
37 statements extracted from the articles
- whatA photo shows Healy-Rae behind the bar pulling a pint with about 30 others gathered without face coverings (irishtimes.com)
- whatVideos show people dancing with tops off, some carrying others on their shoulders, with no social distancing or facemasks (irishtimes.com)
- whatPeople were moving around without masks and being served at the counter, activities not permitted under Covid-19 restrictions (irishtimes.com)
- whatDanny Healy-Rae was pictured smiling as he pulled pints with dozens of people packed into his Kilgarvan bar (extra.ie)
- whatAt least 38 people were present at the indoor gathering. (extra.ie)
- whatDanny Healy-Rae posed for a picture with the crowd while pulling pints from behind the bar. (extra.ie)
- whatNo masks appear to have been worn among the crowd or by Danny Healy-Rae. (extra.ie)
- whatHospitality staff were required to wear face coverings under public health guidance. (extra.ie)
- whatSeparate footage showed a maskless Danny Healy-Rae dancing with a punter outside the bar. (extra.ie)
- whatThe separate video footage is not related to the wedding party. (extra.ie)
- whatDanny Healy-Rae was seen pulling pints from the bar without a mask in a packed, maskless pub. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatDanny Healy-Rae was seen briefly dancing outside the pub with a woman in the video. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatA wedding party allegedly took place in the pub in July before indoor hospitality restrictions were lifted (irishtimes.com)
- whatAbout 30 people gathered without face coverings (irishtimes.com)
- whatDanny Healy-Rae is seen behind the bar pulling a pint in a photo posted online (irishtimes.com)
- whereDanny Healy-Rae owns the Jackie Healy-Rae Bar in Kilgarvan (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe gathering took place at the Jackie Healy-Rae pub in Kilgarvan, Co. Kerry. (extra.ie)
- whereThe pub is the Jackie Healy-Rae Bar in Kilgarvan (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe gathering was a wedding party alleged to have taken place in the pub in July before indoor hospitality restrictions were lifted (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe gathering took place ten days before indoor hospitality was allowed (extra.ie)
- whenThe gathering took place on 16 July 2021 (extra.ie)
- whenThe gathering was several days before indoor hospitality was reopened to fully vaccinated people and those who have recovered from Covid-19 (extra.ie)
- whenThe gathering took place ten days before indoor hospitality was allowed to reopen. (extra.ie)
- whenPubs, restaurants and cafés were only allowed to resume indoor service from 26 July 2021. (extra.ie)
- investigationGardaí started preliminary inquiries into a gathering at a pub owned by Danny Healy-Rae (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe inquiry was a scoping exercise seeking to confirm when the gathering took place and whether public health guidelines or pub laws were breached (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGarda headquarters confirmed inquiries were being made but no criminal investigation had begun and no complaints had been received (irishtimes.com)
- investigationAn Garda Síochána are aware of images and video published online appearing to be an indoor gathering in a licensed premises (irishtimes.com)
- investigationNo complaint has been made and no formal investigation has started (extra.ie)
- investigationGardaí confirmed they are now formally investigating, having previously made only preliminary enquiries. (extra.ie)
- investigationAn investigation by Kerry gardaí is ongoing. (extra.ie)
- investigationGardaí confirmed an investigation into the matter has been launched. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGardaí in Kerry are investigating a gathering at a pub owned by Danny Healy-Rae (irishtimes.com)
- investigationNo complaint had been made and no formal investigation had commenced as of 6 August (irishtimes.com)
- investigationAn investigation into the matter is ongoing by Gardaí in Kerry (irishtimes.com)
- otherAn Garda Síochána stated it does not comment directly on social media content whose context and veracity remain to be verified (irishtimes.com)
- otherDanny Healy-Rae was refusing to comment when contacted (extra.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 19 Aug2021Gardaí in Kerry investigating circumstances of gathering at Healy-Rae pub
Reports that Gardaí in Kerry are investigating a gathering at a pub in Kilgarvan, noting that preliminary inquiries were made in early August and that no formal complaint or investigation had commenced as of 6 August 2021.
suspect, Danny Healy-Rae, male, named, irish (judged from name)Danny Healy-Rae - 19 Aug2021Gardai investigating alleged gathering at Danny Healy-Rae's pub
Confirms that Kerry Gardaí have formally launched an investigation into the alleged gathering, following the emergence of videos and images online. Danny Healy-Rae, the pub owner and Kerry TD, refused to comment on the matter.
suspect, Danny Healy-Rae, male, named, irish (judged from name)Danny Healy-Rae - 19 Aug2021Gardaí on the case of Healy-Rae pub gathering of maskless crowd - Extra.ie
Confirms Gardaí have moved from preliminary enquiries to a formal investigation; provides details of the gathering (at least 38 people, 16 July, Patrick's wedding, no masks worn); mentions separate footage of pub-goers flouting guidelines not related to the wedding; notes Danny Healy-Rae questioned Health Minister Donnelly in Dáil on 14 July.
suspect, Danny Healy-Rae, male, named, irish (judged from name)Danny Healy-Rae - 7 Aug2021Gardai making enquiries into packed Healy-Rae pub - Extra.ie
Adds that the gathering was of at least 38 people, specifically Patrick Healy-Rae's wedding on 16 July 2021, that Danny Healy-Rae was pictured pulling pints, that his brother Michael Healy-Rae was present, that a video of an unrelated gathering also emerged on social media, and that no complaint or formal investigation has been made.
suspect, Danny Healy-Rae, male, named, irish (judged from name)Danny Healy-Rae - 6 Aug2021Gardaí making inquiries about gathering at Healy-Rae pub in Kerry
Original report of the preliminary inquiries; confirms the gathering was a wedding party of about 30 people in July 2021, describes photos and videos showing people without masks or social distancing, and notes no criminal investigation had begun and no complaints had been received.
suspect, Danny Healy-Rae, male, named, irish (judged from name)Danny Healy-Rae