Ireland Case No. 1856Breach of quarantine law (resisting mandatory hotel quarantine) · Co. Dublin · 2 Apr 2021
Two women acquitted of resisting hotel quarantine in Dublin
Niamh Mulreany and Kirstie McGrath, two women, were arrested at Dublin Airport on 2 April 2021 after allegedly refusing to enter mandatory hotel quarantine following a trip to Dubai where they had intended to undergo cosmetic surgery. They were charged with breaching section 38 of the Health (Amendment) Act 2021 and pleaded not guilty. After a four-year legal battle that included a Supreme Court appeal dismissed in September 2024, the case went to a non-jury trial at Dublin District Court. On 15 April 2025, Judge John Hughes acquitted both women, finding the prosecution had not shown that the penalties for non-compliance had been explained to them as required.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court2 Nov
8 reports - Acquitted15 Apr
2 reports - Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Two women are accused of refusing to enter mandatory hotel quarantine after returning from Dubai during the Covid-19 pandemic.
- The women had travelled to Dubai where they claimed they intended to undergo cosmetic surgery but did not have the procedure.
- Where
- The women were arrested at Terminal 2, Dublin Airport.
- When
- The women were arrested on the afternoon of 2 April 2021.
- Cause
- The women allegedly refused to go to the designated quarantine hotel, saying they could not afford the cost estimated at over €1,800 each.
- Charges
- The women were charged with breaching section 38 of the Health (Amendment) Act 2021, an offence carrying a fine of up to €2,000 and a month in jail.
- In court
- The women brought judicial review proceedings to stop their prosecution, which the High Court dismissed and the Supreme Court dismissed in September 2024.
- Criminal proceedings resumed at Dublin District Court in January 2025, where both women pleaded not guilty.
- Sentence
- On 15 April 2025, Judge John Hughes acquitted both women, finding the prosecution had not shown that the penalties for non-compliance had been explained to them as required.
- Other details
- Niamh Mulreany (aged 27 to 29 in various reports) lives at Scarlett Row, Essex Street West, Dublin 2, and Kirstie McGrath (aged 32 to 34 in various reports) lives at St Anthony's Road, Dublin 8.
- The women were held at Mountjoy women's prison before being released following a High Court hearing.
111 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThe two women are accused of allegedly refusing to quarantine at a hotel during the Covid-19 pandemic. (irishtimes.com)
- whatNiamh Mulreany is 27 and lives at Scarlett Row, Essex Street West, Dublin. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe women went to Dubai where they claimed they intended to undergo cosmetic surgery but did not have the procedures. (irishtimes.com)
- whatPassengers arriving from designated countries including the UAE were required to undergo mandatory quarantine at a hotel for up to 14 days. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe women refused to go to the hotel claiming they could not afford the cost, estimated at over €1,800 each. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe women claimed they needed to get back to their children. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe women refused to go to the hotel for mandatory quarantine. (rte.ie)
- 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)
- whatThe women had gone on a trip to Dubai, where they claimed they intended to have cosmetic surgery but did not have the procedure. (rte.ie)
- whatThe women refused to go to a designated hotel for mandatory quarantine. (rte.ie)
- whatThey claimed they intended to undergo cosmetic surgery in Dubai but did not have the procedure. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe two women had pre-booked their places in the designated hotel as required under the legislation. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe women were arrested at Dublin Airport. (irishtimes.com, rte.ie)
- whereThe two women were arrested at Dublin Airport. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe arrests took place at Terminal 2 in Dublin Airport. (thejournal.ie)
- whereThe two friends had travelled to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. (irishtimes.com)
- 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)
- whereThey had travelled to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe women were arrested on April 2, 2021, on their return from the UAE. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe arrests took place on Good Friday, 2 April 2021. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThey were arrested at Dublin Airport on Good Friday, 2 April 2021. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe two women were arrested on the afternoon of 2 April 2021. (thejournal.ie)
- whenThey were both arrested on the afternoon of 2 April 2021 at Dublin Airport. (irishtimes.com)
- 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)
- whenThe two women were both arrested on the afternoon of 2 April 2021 at Terminal 2 in Dublin Airport. (rte.ie)
- whenThe two women were arrested on the afternoon of 2 April 2021 at Terminal 2 in Dublin Airport. (irishtimes.com)
- causeThe women refused to go to the designated quarantine hotel, saying they could not afford it. (irishtimes.com)
- causeThe women said they had intended to undergo cosmetic surgery in the UAE but did not. (irishtimes.com)
- causeBoth women refused to go to the hotel, saying they could not afford the cost of the stay. (irishtimes.com)
- causeThe women had returned from Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. (thejournal.ie)
- causeThe women refused to enter mandatory hotel quarantine. (thejournal.ie)
- investigationAir Corps officer Mark McLoughlin was on duty as terminal liaison officer to transfer passengers to be quarantined at a designated hotel. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGarda Karl Carroll spent 90 minutes talking to the two women and explaining the regulations starting around 1pm. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeThe women were charged with breaching section 38 of the Health (Amendment) Act 2021. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeThey were charged with breaches of the Health (Amendment) Act 2021. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeThe women were charged with breaches of Covid-19 legislation. (rte.ie)
- chargeThey were charged with breaching Section 38 of the Health (Amendment) Act 2021. (thejournal.ie, irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- chargeThe two women were charged with breaching section 38 of the Health (Amendment) Act 2021. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeThe defence pleaded not guilty (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeThey were charged with breaching section 38 of the Health (Amendment) Act 2021 for resisting being brought to quarantine. (rte.ie, irishtimes.com)
- courtThe District Court granted bail the day after the arrest, but the women could not take it up because they could not afford it. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe women were detained at Mountjoy women's prison before being released following a High Court hearing. (irishtimes.com)
- courtEarlier this year, a High Court judge dismissed the women's application to prevent their proposed prosecution in the District Court. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe Supreme Court has agreed to hear the women's appeal against the High Court's refusal to halt their prosecution. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe High Court dismissed the women's application to prevent their prosecution before the District Court. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe women appealed directly to the Supreme Court. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe Supreme Court has reserved judgment and will give it at a later date. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe Supreme Court dismissed the appeal by the two women. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThey launched judicial review proceedings against the DPP, the Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Health, Ireland and the Attorney General. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe High Court dismissed their challenge before they were granted an appeal to the Supreme Court. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe court found the review by the Designated Appeals Officer did not constitute the administration of justice. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe women took judicial review proceedings to stop their prosecutions. (rte.ie)
- courtThe women challenged the procedures for designating states for mandatory quarantine and the review mechanism for continued quarantine. (rte.ie)
- courtThe women appealed against the High Court's dismissal of their challenge to their prosecutions. (rte.ie)
- courtThe Supreme Court upheld the High Court's decision. (rte.ie)
- courtMs Justice Aileen Donnelly, giving the judgment for the five Supreme Court judges, rejected the women's appeals. (rte.ie)
- courtThe Supreme Court dismissed the women's constitutional challenge in September. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe criminal proceedings resumed at Dublin District Court, and the defendants did not have to attend. (thejournal.ie)
- courtTheir defence solicitor told the judge that the women were pleading not guilty and seeking a hearing date. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe judge ordered the disclosure of prosecution evidence to the defence. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe non-jury District Court trial was scheduled for 10 February. (thejournal.ie)
- courtTheir lawyers brought a legal challenge over the constitutionality of the mandatory hotel quarantine legislation. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe Supreme Court dismissed their constitutional challenge in September. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe criminal proceedings resumed at Dublin District Court with the defendants not attending. (irishtimes.com)
- courtDefence solicitor Michael French told Judge Treasa Kelly that his clients were pleading not guilty and seeking a hearing date. (irishtimes.com)
- courtJudge Kelly ordered the disclosure of prosecution evidence to the defence. (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)
- courtThe Supreme Court dismissed their legal challenge in September, which allowed the criminal proceedings to continue. (rte.ie)
- courtThe case went to a full contested hearing at Dublin District Court. (rte.ie)
- courtThe women pleaded not guilty. (rte.ie)
- courtJudge John Hughes dismissed the charges. (rte.ie)
- courtThe judge said the court had heard no evidence that the penalties for non-compliance had been explained to the women, as required. (rte.ie)
- courtTheir lawyers brought a legal challenge over the constitutionality of the quarantine legislation to the Supreme Court, which dismissed the action in September. (irishtimes.com)
- courtJudge John Hughes dismissed the case at Dublin District Court. (irishtimes.com)
- courtMark Lynam SC, defending, was instructed by solicitor Michael French. (irishtimes.com)
- courtMr Lynam submitted there was no evidence the UAE came under the restrictions or that his clients were resisting the quarantine law. (irishtimes.com)
- courtJudge Hughes cited a High Court ruling on the power of compulsion under the Public Order Act requiring an officer to inform a person that failing to comply can result in criminal conviction and penalties. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceThe offence carried a fine of up to €2,000 and a month in jail. (irishtimes.com)
- otherIf convicted, the women face fines of up to €2,000 and several months' imprisonment. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe women were granted bail the day after their arrest but could not afford to take it up. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe women were held at Mountjoy women's prison before being released following a High Court hearing. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe women argue the Minister for Health's designation of states for mandatory quarantine was unconstitutional. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe women spent a night in prison, were then released on bail and completed the quarantine period. (rte.ie)
- otherIf convicted, the women could face imprisonment or a fine of up to €2,000. (rte.ie)
- otherThe two women deny the charges. (thejournal.ie)
- otherThey claimed they intended to undergo cosmetic surgery but did not have any procedures. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe offence can result in fines of up to €2,000 and a month in jail. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe law had been temporarily in force and was intended to halt the spread of Covid-19. (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)
- otherThe defence said the women denied the charges from the outset. (rte.ie)
- otherNeither woman gave evidence or addressed the court and simply smiled following their acquittal, concluding their four-year legal battle. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 15 Apr2025Dublin women accused of breaking quarantine law over Dubai trip walk free from court four years on
Reports the acquittal by Judge John Hughes at Dublin District Court, who found the prosecution failed to adduce evidence that the penalties for non-compliance with the quarantine law had been outlined to the two women as required.
accused, Kirstie McGrath, 34, female, named, irish (judged from name)Kirstie McGrathaccused, Niamh Mulreany, 29, female, named, irish (judged from name)Niamh Mulreany - 15 Apr2025Court case over mandatory quarantine resistance dismissed
Reports the acquittal at Dublin District Court on 15 April 2025, after the Supreme Court dismissed the women's challenge in September 2024. Gives the women's ages (34 and 29) and the judge's reasoning for dismissing the charges.
accused, Kirstie McGrath, 34, female, named, irish (judged from name)Kirstie McGrathaccused, Niamh Mulreany, 29, female, named, irish (judged from name)Niamh Mulreany - 10 Feb2025Irish 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 - 10 Feb2025Women 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 - 6 Jan2025Two women who refused to enter hotel quarantine after Covid-19 Dubai trip plead not guilty
Criminal proceedings resumed at Dublin District Court after the Supreme Court dismissed the defendants' constitutional challenge in September. Both women pleaded not guilty and the trial was set for 10 February 2025.
accused, Kirstie McGrath, 33, female, named, irish (judged from name)Kirstie McGrathaccused, Niamh Mulreany, 28, female, named, irish (judged from name)Niamh Mulreany - 6 Jan2025'Dubai two' plead not guilty to breaking Covid-19 quarantine laws in 2021
Reports that the women pleaded not guilty at Dublin District Court on 6 January 2025, after the Supreme Court dismissed their challenge in September 2024. The non-jury trial was set for 10 February 2025, and the women did not have to attend the hearing.
accused, Kirstie McGrath, 33, female, named, irish (judged from name)Kirstie McGrathaccused, Niamh Mulreany, 28, female, named, irish (judged from name)Niamh Mulreany - 11 Nov2024Women lose appeal over Covid quarantine refusal
Reports the Supreme Court's rejection of the women's appeal against the High Court's dismissal of their judicial review. Gives their ages as 27 and 32 and their home areas in Dublin.
accused, Niamh Mulreany, 27, female, named, irish (judged from name)Niamh Mulreanyaccused, Kirstie McGrath, 32, female, named, irish (judged from name)Kirstie McGrath - 11 Nov2024Supreme Court rejects ‘wafer thin’ arguments by women who refused hotel quarantine after Dubai trip
Supreme Court unanimously dismisses the women's appeal, upholding the High Court's rejection of their constitutional challenge to the prosecution for refusing hotel quarantine.
accused, Niamh Mulreany, 27, female, named, irish (judged from name)Niamh Mulreanyaccused, Kirstie McGrath, 32, female, named, irish (judged from name)Kirstie McGrath - 7 Mar2024Supreme Court reserves judgment in women’s appeals to halt prosecution over Covid-19 travel
Reports the Supreme Court hearing and reserved judgment in the women's appeal to halt their prosecution. Adds the legal grounds challenged, the High Court's earlier ruling, and the women's bail and detention history.
accused, Niamh Mulreany, 27, female, named, irish (judged from name)Niamh Mulreanyaccused, Kirstie McGrath, 32, female, named, irish (judged from name)Kirstie McGrath - 2 Nov2023Court to hear appeals from women who refused to quarantine after landing from Dubai
The Supreme Court has agreed to hear the women's appeal against the High Court's refusal to halt their prosecution. The article also sets out the quarantine rules, the women's bail and detention, and the issues the court will consider. It does not name any case already in the list.
accused, Niamh Mulreany, 27, female, named, irish (judged from name)Niamh Mulreanyaccused, Kirstie McGrath, 32, female, named, irish (judged from name)Kirstie McGrath