Kirstie McGrath and Niamh Mulreany have been cquitted of violating Covid-19 regulations related to their return travel.
They faced legal action after returning to Dublin Airport from the United Arab Emirates in 2021 while refusing to quarantine in a hotel.
The women had travelled to Dubai during the pandemic with plans for cosmetic surgery but ultimately did not proceed with the procedure.
Judge John Hughes dismissed the case, citing that the prosecution did not prove the consequences of failing to comply with quarantine regulations.
Garda Karl Carroll described the discussions with the women, stating that they claimed they could not afford the quarantine costs and had responsibilities at home.
The court noted that while the women resisted being taken to a hotel, the prosecution failed to demonstrate what penalties they faced for not adhering to the regulations.
The prosecution had failed to prove Dubai was a designated state to which the quarantine rule applied. The court is not here to pass judgement on whether the defendants were reckless to themselves or others in electing to travel to Dubai at that time.
Judge Hughes said the “complex and complicated” legislation was designed to deal with the Covid emergency that “swept Ireland” in a an evolving set of circumstances that threatened lives and killed millions across the world. The legislation tried to balance human rights against the requirement to protect citizens’ lives
