GARDAÍ HAVE arrested a woman in County Mayo for spitting at two officers.
An Garda Síochána have today confirmed that a woman in her late 20's was arrested on Tuesday, April 14 for a public order offence in the town of Swinford.
A statement from Gardaí reports that at approximately 8.15pm on Tuesday evening, Gardaí on patrol stopped on Main Street in Swinford where a group of people had gathered together.
The group were ordered to disperse under new enhanced Garda powers, but one of the group, the woman aged in her 20's, refused to leave and was arrested under the Public Order Act.
There have been multiple reports from across the country of Gardaí being coughed at or spit on since the pandemic beganWhile under arrest and in a Garda patrol car, the unnamed woman spat at the two members of An Garda Síochána.
She was brought to Swinford Garda Station where she was charged in connection with the Public Order Act, and is due to appear in court at a later date.
There has been a huge spike in reports of members of the public coughing or spitting at Gardaí and other members of the emergency services, including health care workers, amid the coronavirus crisis.
The spike in assaults has led to Gardaí being supplied with 16,00 'spithoods'-- a mesh device which is placed over the head and face of a person to prevent them from spitting at an arresting officer.
Garda Headquarters have assured the public that the spit hoods will be a temporary measure for use by the Gardaí only while the coronavirus crisis continues.
See More: Mayo, Public Order, Swinford
