A SMALL group of people were dispersed from an organised protest in Donegal this weekend.
An anti abortion protest was arranged to take place outside Lifford Hospital on Saturday.
Organisers were left red-faced when fewer than a handful of people had turned up by the time Gardaí arrived.
Local officers were alerted to the planned protest and spoke to those present.
“Gardaí are aware of a protest that took place in Lifford,” a spokesperson for An Garda Síochána told Donegal Daily.
“Gardaí attended the scene and engaged with a small group that were present and they later dispersed.”
Under the Level 5 Covid-19 guidelines, no organised outdoor gatherings should take place.
The Garda spokesperson said: “In supporting the Covid-19 public health guidelines and regulations, An Garda Síochána has and will continue to adopt, a graduated policing response based on its tradition of policing by consent. This has seen Gardaí engage, educate, encourage and, as a last resort, enforce.
“Where Gardaí identify potential breaches of the public health regulations a file is prepared for the DPP in each case or a Fixed Payment Notice is issued where appropriate.
“Personal social responsibility, wearing of face coverings in open spaces and social distancing are public health guidelines and are not penal regulations.
“The Covid-19 Pandemic remains a public health crisis and An Garda Síochána continues to appeal to all citizens to demonstrate personal and social responsibility to comply with Public Health Guidelines and Regulations, in particular essential journeys, in order to continue to save lives,”
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