A judge said a Clare man who participated in a 15-man strong boxing training session in a woods allowed the Covid-19 pandemic to continue.
Imposing a one-month prison term on Ned Doherty (30) for a public order breach during the first Covid-19 lockdown, Judge Patrick Durcan said that Mr Doherty’s actions were not fair to older people who are living in total fear of Covid-19 “and who have not left their houses in the last 12 months”.
At Ennis District Court on Wednesday, Judge Durcan said Mr Doherty’s actions were also not fair to the medical services “or while this country is on its knees economically while dealing with the public health emergency”.
Training session
Judge Durcan said: “15 guys boxing training in the woods is how the virus spreads because they can’t be in the one bubble”.
He said the facts of the case are “appalling” and after imposing the one-month prison term stated that someone who shows such disregard for everyone “must take an appropriate punishment”.
The judge imposed the prison term after Mr Doherty of St Michael’s Park, Ballymaley, Ennis pleaded guilty to a public order offence when gardaí arrived at the scene at Dromore Wood on May 23rd last and told the group of 15 to disperse due to Covid-19 health regulations.
A second charge concerning an alleged breach of Covid-19 regulations was struck out against Mr Doherty.
'Losing his sweat'
Sgt Aiden Lonergan told Judge Durcan that Garda Joe Kearney spoke to the 15 present and highlighted the health restrictions that were in force at the time.
Sgt Lonergan stated that Mr Doherty said that ‘he didn’t have time for this and was losing his sweat’ and began sparring with another male.
Sgt Lonergan stated that Mr Doherty then asked Garda Kearney for a fight before he was brought away by members of his family.
Judge Durcan stated that it was "a hugely aggravating factor" in the way that Mr Doherty interacted with Garda Kearney.
Sparring
Solicitor for Mr Doherty, Daragh Hassett stated that Mr Doherty had arranged with a small number of friends to go sparring in compliance with Covid health regulations as Dromore Wood is 5km from his home as the crow flies.
Mr Hassett stated that unfortunately word got out and more people came along to the woods. He said Mr Doherty has struggled with the Covid-19 restrictions “and was out in the open air amongst the trees working out”.
Mr Hassett stated that his client has a short fuse and there is no excuse for what he said to Garda Kearney adding that he has since apologised.
Mr Doherty was later freed on bail pending the outcome of his appeal against the one-month sentence at the circuit court.
