Gardaí in Donegal are hoping to maintain the county’s record of zero arrests for Covid-19 legislation breaches as Operation Fanacht continues this weekend.
Gardaí reported a high level of compliance at checkpoints in towns and villages in the county, as well as at the border.
No arrests have been made in the county so far under the emergency legislation, gardaí have confirmed. 76 arrests have been recorded nationwide up to 25th April in cases where individuals did not adhere to the guidelines despite receiving a number of warnings.
It is hoped that the high level of compliance will continue in Donegal over the Bank Holiday weekend.
Inspector Michael Harrison said gardaí are out in force across the county: “We will be at the checkpoints engaging with people and educating them and encouraging them. We hope not to have to use enforcement.
“So far in Donegal we haven’t had to arrest anybody for breaches. The vast majority of people are being very good and cooperating.
“We ask people to be safe, with regard to the Covid-19 virus and to adhere to the social distancing.
“The only reason we are doing this is to keep the community safe and to stop the spread of Covid-19.”
Inspector Harrison added that the Roads Policing Unit will also be out enforcing road traffic legislation this weekend. There has been a worrying rise in drug-driving detections in the county during the pandemic. In response, a second mobile drug testing device will be in operation in Letterkenny from this weekend on.