'Dubai two’ accused of refusing covid quarantine to face trial in April

Kirstie McGrath and Niamh Mulreany had gone to Dubai where they claimed they intended to undergo cosmetic surgery but ultimately did not have the procedure

Niamh Mulreany denies the charges. File picture: Gareth Chaney / Collins Photos

Two Dublin women who failed to block a prosecution for refusing to enter into mandatory hotel quarantine four years ago after returning from Dubai during the covid pandemic will face trial in April.

Mother-of-two Kirstie McGrath, aged 33, with an address at St Anthony's Road, Dublin 8 and Niamh Mulreany, aged 28, a mum of one from Scarlett Row, Essex Street West, Dublin 2, were both arrested on the afternoon of April 2, 2021, at Terminal 2 in Dublin Airport.

The two friends had gone to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, where they claimed they intended to undergo cosmetic surgery but ultimately did not have the procedure.

However, on return to Ireland, they were charged with breaching section 38 of the Health (Amendment) Act 2021, which can result in fines of up to €2,000 and a month in jail. The law had been temporarily in force at the time and aimed to halt the spread of covid-19.

A district court bail hearing on April 3, 2021, was told they went abroad for breast enhancement surgery, but it later emerged they did not get the procedure.

In a bid to stop the criminal proceedings, their lawyers had brought a legal challenge over the constitutionality of the legislation surrounding the mandatory hotel quarantine system. It went all the way to the Supreme Court, which dismissed their action in September.

Kirstie McGrath, one of the the women who claimed they did not know about the covid regulations at the time. File picture: Paddy Cummins/IrishPhotodesk.ie

Last month, the criminal proceedings resumed at Dublin District Court. Their defence solicitor, Michael French, had informed the court his clients were pleading not guilty.

Although the hearing was scheduled to be heard on Monday, it was slotted into a lengthy list of cases waiting to be allocated trial dates in the non-jury District Court.

Mr French informed the court his clients, who did not have to attend, required a hearing of the case, and he asked the judge to order the disclosure of prosecution evidence, which had been requested previously.

Judge John Hughes reiterated the order for material to be handed over to the defence. He ordered that their hearing will take place on April 15.

At their first appearance almost four years ago, the court heard gardaí allegedly tried explaining the new regulations for two hours to the women who claimed they did not know about the law.

Bail was initially set at €2,800, and they were remanded in custody, but the High Court changed the terms a day later. It removed the requirement for sureties and money to be lodged and allowed them to go straight to the quarantine hotel for 10 days before going home.

The defence had said at their first hearing that the two women deny the charges. They also provided three negative PCR tests the week before their return.