Rathkeale gardaí have 'sufficient' resources to deal with potential New Year's celebrations

Other community leaders said the town has been unfairly singled out and there are fears of the spread of the virus in communities across the country and not just in Rathkeale.

Gardaí said they have “sufficient” resources in Rathkeale, Co Limerick, as a local policing plan “remains in place” to respond to any potential large New Year’s celebrations in the town.

It comes after gardaí confirmed last Monday that they were “preparing files for the Director of Public Prosecutions following incidents encountered by gardaí in Rathkeale across the Christmas period involving gatherings by large groups at private establishments and on public thoroughfares in the town”.