The trial of two politicians and two hoteliers over their alleged breach of Covid restrictions in organising a golf society dinner is to begin on Thursday in Co Galway. Galway East Independent TD Noel Grealish( 55), former Fianna Fail senator Donie Cassidy( 75), John Sweeney( 60) and his son James Sweeney( 32), owners of the Station House Hotel, face charges related to organising the Oireachtas Golf Society event during pandemic restrictions. All men face a single charge that on August 19, 2020

This was an event that was not a spur of the moment event.... This had been worked out a couple of years in advance.“ It has been impressed on the public that these were people of social standing, former members of parliament.... Everybody jumped on the bandwagon to suggest that these people were ignoring( rules) and because they occupied a particular status in our society, that the rules did not apply to them.“ All of this started when the Government had an emergency meeting in relation to br

I felt safeJohn Flaherty “ I was personally satisfied that it was being conducted to the guidelines.... I stayed for the prize-giving and there was a PA system, and it was letting you know what was happening in the other room.“ You couldn’t see what was happening.... There was a legal argument about the interpretation of guidelines for indoor gatherings, particularly those that were published by Failte Ireland. Senior counsel Colm Smyth, representing Cassidy, said his client is “ a lawmaker no