'Expect to be questioned if you're outdoors' say Athlone Gardai

A Garda Sergeant in Athlone said today (Tuesday) that people who are outdoors should expect to be stopped by officers and asked about the reason for their movements.

Following the Taoiseach's announcement last Friday that the country was, effectively, going into lockdown, Sergeant Andrew Haran said local Gardai had been carrying out regular checks. 

"We are stopping people and quizzing them about their movements if they are out," he said.

"We are authenticating and enquiring about people's movements. So people should expect to be stopped and asked to validate their reason for being out."

He said the number of people out in public was generally low, and there had been good compliance with social distancing guidelines in the Athlone area to date. 

Checkpoints for cars, to ask drivers the reason for their journey, were also being carried out. 

"In addition, we are checking public amenity areas, and although they've mostly been compliant so far, we'll be continuing to do that," he said. 

While there have been disturbing reports of isolated spitting and coughing assaults in some other parts of the country, Sergeant Haran said there had been no such incidents here, and the level of crime in general has been low in recent weeks.