Tipperary partygoers fled into fields when gardaí arrived during covid, court told

The court heard that when officers arrived they found a large fire burning around which were arranged about 20 chairs, a barbeque and a lot of food, beer cans, spirits and wine bottles

The court heard that the accused had told officers that it was a private party, being held on private property and that the gardaí did not have permission to attend. File picture: Larry Cummins

Around 20 people at an open air barbeque party in Tipperary during the covid lockdown fled into fields leaving only the alleged organiser to face gardaí who had just arrived to investigate, a court has heard.

Luke Kinnane, who is accused of breaching the covid regulations by holding the party at his yard in Lacken, Kilshane, Tipperary, on April 25, 2020, allegedly told gardaí it was a private party on private property and the officers did not have permission to attend.