A TEENAGER has been arrested and charged for multiple breaches of Covid-19 restrictions.
The suspect, an 18-year-old boy from Ballymun in north Dublin, was arrested in the area on Monday evening, 27 April.
Gardaí state that the boy was arrested after police received directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions following multiple alleged breaches of the new and temporary Health (Preservation and Protection and other Emergency Measures in the Public Interest) Bill 2020.
The arrest comes after the boy was alleged to have failed to comply with Garda directions a number of times, with Gardaí saying following the guidelines of Operation Fanacht to 'engage, educate, encourage and, as a last resort, enforce'.
Gardaí report that the boy is also expected to be charged in connection with a separate incident involving the seizure of suspected cocaine with an estimated street value of €5,000 euro in the Ballymun area which took place on Wednesday, 22 April.
Speaking on the arrest and charge, a Garda spokesperson said:
"The charges relate to a number of incidents in which he had failed to comply with directions given by Gardaí under the legislation.
"In relation to all the incidents Gardaí did engage, educate, encourage and as a last resort enforce."
The teenager is thought to have appeared before a special sitting of Dublin District Court (Criminal Courts of Justice No. 2) yesterday morning, April 22.
