Gardaí are conducting an operation in the Wicklow Mountains to stop people going there to exercise and view the snowy conditions, despite the 5km-from-home rule in place.
A network of checkpoints was put in place and people were being turned away from the uplands, while several towing trucks were deployed to take vehicles away on Sunday.
Some tow trucks were removing two vehicles at a time; one on the back of the truck and another towed behind.
One Garda source familiar with the operation told The Irish Times that gardaí would have towed more vehicles away but the way cars had been parked blocked access.
“The operation today [Sunday] seems to be working; it’s a lot better today with fewer people up there,” said the source.
“Aside from Covid-19, the conditions on the Sally Gap and Wicklow Gap this weekend are totally unsuitable for people walking or driving, it’s crazy that people would go there. And the area around the Hell Fire Club in Dublin was also a disaster with so many people.”
Compliance
They added: “You are talking about thousands of people going there, so compliance [with Covid-19 restrictions] wasn’t great. But the operation we have seems to have deterred more people today.”
In reply to queries from The Irish Times, Garda Headquarters said the ongoing operation underway in Wicklow was part of Operation Fanacht, which aims to enforce the 5km-from-home rule.
“Local gardaí will once again be in the uplands today [Sunday] trying to control traffic volumes and checkpoints are in place on approaches and in the uplands themselves,” it said, adding the vehicles being towed were parked in a manner than would block access for emergency vehicles.
Other illegally parked vehicles, but not blocking access, were dealt with via a fixed charge notice for illegal parking.
