‘Common sense’ approach needed as fully vaccinated passengers leave quarantine
Derek Jennings, from Clondalkin, leaving the Crowne Plaza hotel, Santry, near Dublin Airport (PA)
Two passengers who travelled from Israel to Ireland and brought cases to the High Court against their stays in mandatory hotel quarantine have been permitted to leave their hotels.
Derek Jennings, 47, who was released from mandatory hotel quarantine to care for his dying father, said a more "common sense" approach to the system is needed.
Despite being fully vaccinated, he had been forced to enter the facility at Dublin’s Crowne Plaza hotel on Friday after returning from Israel.
It is understood Inbar Aviezer, a healthcare worker who was travelling from Israel for work and is fully vaccinated, has also been permitted to leave the hotel this evening.
Ms Aviezer had been in quarantine since Wednesday, despite producing a negative PCR test and being the recipient of two Pfizer vaccine doses.
Mr Jennings, who had been working in Israel since February, but rushed home when his father, who suffers from cancer, collapsed and was admitted to intensive care during the week, said he supports the idea of quarantining foreign arrivals but described the system in Ireland as a “shambles”.
He said: “I agree with the quarantine, I really do. I’m not against it.
“Logistically, from the moment we arrived in Dublin Airport it was a bit of a shambles.”
He added: “I just think there needs to be a little bit more logical, open mindedness about the situation here.
“We’re not criminals. People have openly put themselves in this situation.
“A more common sense approach (is needed).
“In my case, I appealed on humanitarian, compassionate grounds. I was refused twice.
Mr Jennings said he was very happy to be released, but remains very concerned about his father.
He told the PA news agency: “It’s a big relief, I hope everything turns out well.
“The father is still very sick in hospital. We’ll see what happens.”
He added that he had spoken to two others at the hotel who are also appealing against their detainment.
“One has put in five or six appeals and each one of them has just been rejected and rejected,” he said.
Mr Jennings said his experience in the facility had not been pleasant.
“It’s not great, I have to be honest. The food is not great. The attitude of some of the staff at the hotel leaves a lot to be desired,” he said.
He left the Crowne Plaza shortly after 3pm on Sunday, when he was collected by his wife Lisa and daughter Hannah.
