Gardaí issue fines to mourners who broke 5km limit to pay respects at home of deceased

Deceased's son invited people to the family home where his father's remains lay in repose

Michael McCarthy died at the Mercy University Hospital, Cork, on Sunday. Picture: Larry Cummins

Several fines were issued for suspected breaches of the 5km travel rule as mourners gathered to pay respects following the death of a prominent member of the Traveller community in Cork.

A Garda spokesman said a “sympathetic but assertive” policing operation was mounted on Wednesday in an effort to deter a large crowd gathering on the city's northside for the funeral of Michael ‘Mike the King’ McCarthy, who died in the Mercy University Hospital on Sunday.