The Mayo publican arrested yesterday evening at his establishment was released again last night pending a file being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.
The publican had reopened his premises yesterday evening, testing each patron for Covid 19 and insisting on a negative result for entry.
Donal Byrne, the owner of Eileen's Bar, in Aghamore, had conducted a series of media interviews yesterday outlining his plans to reopen his wet pub with Covid testing for customers.
Only pubs serving food are allowed to open under the present Level 3 Covid Restrictions.
Mr Byrne made the decision not to serve food as he insisted "food does not stop or prevent Covid, but testing does."
He stated yesterday morning on Midwest Radio that every patron would be tested in an outside area and would have the results within 15 minutes, whereupon they could enter the pub and drink.
A garda spokesperson today confirmed to Midwest News that gardai arrived at the pub at 7.05pm yesterday evening. They carried out an inspection and alleged a number of breaches of Public Health Regulations and guidelines to the owner of the premises and requested that the premises come into compliance.
Following unsuccessful engagement the pub owner a man in his thirties was arrested for Breaches of the Health Act 1947 as amended.
The man was subsequently released from Garda custody and a file will now be prepared for Director of Public Prosecutions.
All other persons present complied with the Public Health Regulations and the premises was subsequently closed.
Gardai say social responsibility, social distancing, wearing of masks (other than on public transport and in commercial premises) and other such public health guidelines are not penal regulations.
The COVID-19 Pandemic remains a public health crisis and An Garda Síochána continues to appeal to all citizens to comply with Public Health Guidelines and Regulations in order to continue to save lives.
