Gardai have issued their first closure order under new regulations.
They shut down a pub in the North West of the country for repeatedly breaching Covid-19 restrictions.
Officers detected breaches in several regions across the country including 25 people being found in a pub at 1.30am, and no masks being worn by staff.
Breaches
Gardai carried out thousands of inspections over the weekend, and say they issued their first closure order after seeing breaches including not complying with serving a substantial meal.
The say the order followed repeated engagement by local gardai.
In Dublin, gardai found up to 200 people in a pub with no food being served and no social distancing, while in another premises 25 people were found inside at 1.30am with fresh pints pulled.
Shebeen
In the southern region, 25 people were found in a pub after midnight, include the license holder sitting at a table with customers, while people at another table were huddled with their arms around each other.
20 people were found at a sports club in the east with no food, no chef present and the kitchen closed, while 30 people were found in a shebeen with no masks or social distancing.
Deputy Commissioner, Policing and Security, John Twomey, says: "The vast majority of licensed premises are operating in compliance with public health regulations. Unfortunately, despite this being said by An Garda Síochána numerous times before, disappointingly it appears it must be said again to some licensed premises – Licensed premises that are not adhering to public health regulations are not only committing an offence, but putting at risk the health of their staff, their customers, and their local community."
