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Serving Waterford garda in court on charges relating to breach of Covid restrictions

Serving Waterford garda in court on charges relating to breach of Covid restrictions
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A serving Garda has appeared in court in Co Waterford charged in relation to a breach of Covid restrictions.

Garda Aoife Moore, from Dungarvan, was before the District Court in Dungarvan this morning where she pleaded guilty to a breach of Covid-19 restrictions after attending a house party and then trying to enter an ambulance. She also pleaded guilty to a public order charge for intoxication in a public place.

The court heard that on June 7 last year,  gardaí were called twice to a house at Cluain Na Greine, Dungarvan,  following reports of an altercation.

Revellers had been celebrating the birthday of Aoife Moore, a 27-year-old probationary Garda based in Waterford city.

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Gardaí found no evidence of an altercation but a woman in the house had suffered an injury and an ambulance was called to bring her to hospital.

At around 5am, Aoife Moore tried to travel with her friend in the ambulance but was refused due to Covid-19 restrictions.

Inspector Stephen Murphy said Ms Moore nearly fell out of the back of the ambulance, and was then judged to be highly intoxicated and a danger to herself.

Barrister Donnchadh Morgan told the court that the defendant had came to Ireland in recent years after living in America with her family, and was determined to become a Garda, employing a personal trainer to meet the fitness requirements and completing an emergency medical technician course to help achieve this.
Following her encounter with her Garda colleagues, she apologised to the Dungarvan station the next evening.
He added that Ms Moore has no previous convictions and is no longer friends with the injured woman from her birthday celebrations of a year ago. She has also not drank alcohol since the night in question and has undergone over 30 sessions of cognitive behavioural therapy, along with becoming a member of Alcoholics Anonymous.

Judge Terence Finn said Ms Moore’s role as a Garda meant a “raising of the bar” which places her in a different position to an ordinary member of the public.

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He added that he would not be imposing a jail sentence but needed time to reflect. He adjourned a decision to June 2 next.

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