Seven gardaí in self-isolation after contact with Dublin visitor to Dubai

Kirstie McGrath, 30, returned what would later be confirmed as a false positive result. Picture: Paddy Cummins/IrishPhotodesk.ie

A leading garda union has said it is "unfair and unacceptable" that gardaí will no longer be prioritised for vaccination.

The statement was made as it emerged that seven rank and file gardaí have been forced into self-isolation after coming into contact with one of two women who flew to Ireland from Dubai last week, with one of the two understood to have subsequently tested positive for Covid-19.

“We have seven members that are isolating,” Antoinette Cunningham, general secretary of the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI), said.

“The point is that the women could be anyone, the issue is around gardaí having to engage in such high-level incidents and not being vaccinated. 

"The incident proves once again the high-risk environment that gardaí have no choice but to work in. 

“Other frontline groups dealing with hotel and mandatory quarantine have all been vaccinated, but An Garda Síochána have not. That’s unfair and unacceptable,” Ms Cunningham said.

She said that the AGSI and fellow union, the Garda Representative Association (GRA), last week wrote to the Taoiseach requesting that gardaí and other “high-risk occupations” be prioritised in tandem with the vaccine-by-age programme announced last week.

The statement comes as one of the two friends directed by the High Court to enter mandatory quarantine after being arrested at Dublin airport on their return from Dubai had tested positive for Covid-19.

The test carried out at the women’s prison of Mountjoy on Kirstie McGrath returned what would later be confirmed as a false positive result while Niamh Mulreany tested negative.

When the girls entered the mandatory quarantine hotel on Sunday night HSE designated officials carried out a fifth PCR test. Both women received texts from the HSE on Tuesday afternoon informing them their results were negative.

Niamh Mulreany, 25 of Scarlett Row, Dublin and Kirstie McGrath, 30, from Rialto allegedly refused to enter into mandatory hotel quarantine and were subsequently arrested for breaches to the Health Act last Friday. They had gone to Dubai for medical consultation.

Ms Mulreany’s mother, speaking on behalf of the friends, has confirmed that both girls received an additional Covid-19 PCR test, after testing negative to a previous three and an antibody exam, when they entered the women’s prison on Saturday night.

Niamh Mulreany at Tallaght District Court on Saturday. Picture: Paddy Cummins/IrishPhotodesk.ie

It is understood that up to seven gardaí considered to be close contacts of the women are now having to self-isolate.

The High Court on Sunday made orders allowing Ms Mulreany, a mother of one and Ms McGrath, a mother of two to leave prison and continue to quarantine at a designated hotel.

The judge also declined the women’s application to be allowed quarantine at their respective homes instead of the hotel so they could be re-united with their children.

Ms Mulreany’s mother Sabrina, who is a frontline worker said: “Niamh and Kirstie are being made examples of, it’s as simple as that and the question has to be asked why? When those girls got onto the plane in Dubai they did not have Covid-19. The girls left Ireland on the morning of March 24 and the new rules on quarantining did not come in until March 26, two days later so why is this happening?

These two girls are not statistics and what is happening is having an awful affect on them.” 

Ms Mulreany added the friends “are being treated worse than animals – this is a complete circus".

“The girls have done nothing wrong. They didn’t break any rules and followed all guidance. Why are they being made examples of and why not those who gave vaccines to people who were not yet entitled to them?" she said.

“They checked with the airline they were travelling to Dubai with and Government authorities as to what guidelines they had to follow. They were told they were allowed to travel as long as they had negative PCR tests and medical documentation explaining why they were leaving the country. They followed all the guidelines they were told to do.

“Both girls are suffering psychologically, as we all are.”