Concern over nightlife scenes as crowds gather in Cork city last night

CONCERN has been expressed about gatherings of people in Cork city by a former Lord Mayor after a large queue formed to enter a city premises last night.

Fine Gael councillor Des Cahill took to Twitter to raise his concern about the queue which had gathered on Oliver Plunkett Street and appeared to show people queueing up for entry to a premises.

He said in a tweet: "These are images from Cork City Centre just now.  Distancing seems very limited in this que [sic] for this premises. When we need to stop the spread this does not seem helpful.  Some common sense please."

A second image appears to show security personnel dividing the queue into groups of people.

390 new cases of Covid-19 were confirmed last night and no further deaths.

A fifth of cases in the past two weeks have been linked to pubs and restaurants.

A Garda spokesperson told The Echo this morning: "Gardaí carried out an inspection of a licensed premises in the Oliver Plunket Street area of Cork city on the evening of 28/09/2020 following reports of crowds gathered outside. The proprietors of the premises were advised of the current regulations. Gardaí are not investigating breaches of Public Health Regulations.

"The HEALTH ACT 1947 (SECTION 31A - TEMPORARY RESTRICTIONS) (COVID-19) (NO. 5) REGULATIONS 2020 came into effect on 19th September 2020 and remain in place.

"There are no penal regulations in respect of social distancing, wearing of masks in public area.

In respect of regulations which are NOT declared to be Penal Regulations under the Health Act 1947 as amended, An Garda Síochána adopt the approach of the three E’s which will see Gardaí engage, educate and encourage, only.

"In respect of regulations which are declared to be Penal Regulations under the Health Act 1947 as amended, An Garda Síochána has and will continue to adopt, a graduated policing response based on its tradition of policing by consent. This has seen Gardaí engage, educate, encourage and, as a last resort, enforce. Where Gardaí find potential breaches of the public health regulations a file is prepared for the DPP in each case.

"The COVID-19 Pandemic remains a public health crisis and An Garda Síochána continues to appeal to all citizens to demonstrate personal and social responsibility to comply with Public Health Guidelines and Regulations in order to continue to save lives."