John Waters And Gemma O' Doherty To Pay Costs For High Court Case Over Covid Restrictions

The pair have previously indicated their intention to appeal if they were not successful

In their submissions to the court, John Waters and Gemma O’Doherty claimed the Covid-19 pandemic was not an “emergency” as set out in the Irish constitution.

As a result, they claimed the Covid-19 restrictions breached our constitutional rights.

They wanted the emergency legislation declared “null and void” on the grounds of what they claimed was its repugnancy to the Irish constitution, and they also wanted a declaration to the effect that the laws were not properly enacted.

The questioned the accuracy of the figures related to Covid-19 deaths, and accused the Minister for Health of relying on “fraudulent science”.

They referred to the arrival of a “police state” and a parallel with Nazi Germany was also made.

In refusing their application, the judge said the constitutional rights involved are not absolute, and he wasn’t convinced the restrictions were disproportinate.

Mr Justice Meenan ruled the lay litigants' failure to consider legal arguments put forward in court meant the proceedings were "very far from being in the public interest".

He ordered them to pay the costs incurred by the Oireachtas and the Minister for Health.