Thursday 5 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. 29866Breach of Covid travel restriction · Co. Leitrim · 9 Feb 2021

Man sentenced for breach of Covid travel restriction in Leitrim

Stephen Nolan, a 33-year-old man from Ballaghaderreen, was caught by gardai travelling 30 km from his home in Boyle on 9 February 2021, breaching the 5 km Covid travel restriction. He told the court he had gone to Lough Key Forest Park to read a book and was heading to Dublin the next day. He was charged with breach of the regulation and sentenced at Carrick-on-Shannon District Court, where Judge Deirdre Gearty fined him €250 in his absence. Leave for a circuit court appeal was fixed at a €100 bond and €100 independent surety.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced30 Sep
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
A man from Ballaghaderreen was caught by gardai travelling beyond the 5 km allowed during the Covid lockdown.
Where
He was stopped in Boyle, 30 km from his home.
When
The breach occurred on 9 February 2021 at Doon, Boyle.
Cause
He said he had gone to Lough Key Forest Park to read a book and was going to Dublin the next day.
Charges
He was charged with breach of the Covid travel restriction.
In court
The case was heard at Carrick-on-Shannon District Court where the defendant was not present.
Sentence
Judge Deirdre Gearty fined the defendant €250.
Other details
Leave for a circuit court appeal was fixed at a €100 bond and €100 independent surety.
9 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatA man from Ballaghaderreen was caught by gardai travelling beyond the 5km allowed during the Covid lockdown (leitrimobserver.ie)
  • whatThe defendant is 33-year-old Stephen Nolan of Main Street, Ballaghaderreen (leitrimobserver.ie)
  • whereHe was stopped in Boyle, 30 km from his home (leitrimobserver.ie)
  • whenThe breach occurred on 9 February 2021 at Doon, Boyle (leitrimobserver.ie)
  • courtLeave for circuit court appeal was fixed at €100 bond and €100 independent surety (leitrimobserver.ie)
  • courtThe defendant was not present in court (leitrimobserver.ie)
  • sentenceHe was fined €250 at Carrick-on-Shannon District Court (leitrimobserver.ie)
  • sentenceJudge Deirdre Gearty fined the defendant €250 (leitrimobserver.ie)
  • otherHe was going to Dublin the next day (leitrimobserver.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 30 Sep2021
    Sentencedleitrimobserver.ie, first report
    Leitrim court hears case of man who travelled outside the 5km Covid restriction

    Reports the sentencing of a man fined €250 for breaching the 5km Covid travel restriction; he was stopped 30 km from home in Boyle and said he had gone to Lough Key Forest Park to read a book.

    convicted, Stephen Nolan, 33, male, named, irish (judged from name)Stephen Nolan