GARDAI were forced to close a premises in Dublin which was illegally operating as a restaurant on Saturday night.
The guards seized a "large amount of alcohol" and noted multiple breaches of Covid-19 regulations at the property after an extensive search.
The premises was also selling booze without a license.
As part of Operation Navigation, An Garda Síochána is conducting nationwide checks of licenced premises following concerns that some pubs weren’t adhering to the public health guidelines.
Pubs that are permitted to open in Phase Three must serve a substantial meal to customers and ensure social distancing on the premises.
An Garda Síochána in support of Op Navigation searched a premises allegedly operating as a restaurant in Dublin y/day. Breaches of Covid19 Regs were observed & premises in breach of preexisting Liquor Licensing Legislation. Large quantity of alcohol seized. #InThisTogether pic.twitter.com/G0K0WBF6Cr
— Garda Info (@gardainfo) July 5, 2020
In a post on Twitter, An Garda Síochána wrote: "An Garda Síochána in support of Op Navigation searched a premises allegedly operating as a restaurant in Dublin y/day. Breaches of Covid19 Regs were observed & premises in breach of preexisting Liquor Licensing Legislation. Large quantity of alcohol seized."
On Friday, Deputy Commissioner of Policing and Security John Twomey said: "When licensed premises were initially shut under the public health guidelines An Garda Síochána checked thousands of licensed premises to ensure they remained closed, which the vast, vast majority did.
"Our intention in this latest phase was to conduct a large number of spot-checks of licensed premises.
"However, it now appears that just a few days after their introduction some licensed premises and their customers are ignoring the public health guidelines.
"By doing so, they are putting themselves and everyone they then come into contact with at risk of getting Covid-19. This is not acceptable and we are now expanding our planned checks."
