Danny Healy-Rae TD has said he is not talking about allegations that his Kilgarvan pub opened 10 days before indoor dining was allowed under Covid restrictions, adding that Kerry people were not interested in the story.
The remarks were made after it was found that a garda investigation into the alleged breaches were “ongoing”, following footage online of a crowd celebrating in the pub during a family wedding event in July.
The footage, which seemed to show the independent Kerry TD behind the counter pulling pints, was taken 10 days before indoor dining was officially allowed to resume.
Healy-Rae has been an outspoken critic of the more excessive lockdown restrictions since 2020, particularly as regards indoor dining and pubs.
"The government needs to trust publicans"
Danny Healy-Rae explains why he opened his family pub.#gripthttps://t.co/ithOq5QKmH pic.twitter.com/5cO3SyM17l
— gript (@griptmedia) September 4, 2020
Asked about the alleged incident and investigation today, Healy-Rae said: “I’m not talking about it to you, or to anyone..and I won’t be making a comment at this time.”
When it was put to him that people had a right to question him on the matter, the TD said he had travelled all over his constituency of Kerry and that he hadn’t heard “much giving out about it from anyone”.
“I’m not getting much queries about it from anyone,” he said.
Reportedly, a Garda investigation into the matter is “ongoing,” though Healy-Rae declined to say whether or not he had been interviewed by police regarding the matter.
Notably, four people, including two politicians, face charges over the now-infamous “Golf Gate” dinner last year.
Noel Grealish and Donie Cassidy among four people to face charges over Golfgate event https://t.co/br4XOzqPYz
— The Irish Times (@IrishTimes) February 17, 2021