Gemma O’Doherty and John Waters open appeal against legality of 'barbaric' Covid laws

Supporters of Ms O'Doherty and Mr Waters protested outside the courts complex over not being permitted to attend the hearing.

Earlier this year Gemma O'Doherty (centre) and John Waters (left) claimed the laws, and the manner in which they were enacted, are repugnant to several articles of the Constitution including concerning the rights to travel, bodily integrity and the family, and amounted to an “unprecedented suspension” of constitutional rights. Photo: Sam Boal / RollingNews.ie

An appeal by Gemma O’Doherty and John Waters against a refusal to permit them to challenge the constitutionality of laws introduced by the State due to the Covid-19 pandemic has opened before the Court of Appeal.

Ms O'Doherty in her opening remarks to the Appeal Court described the restrictions introduced to counter the virus, which she described as the "common cold", as being "barbaric".