A trio of women who had managed to escape from mandatory hotel quarantine near Dublin Airport were found almost 200km from the location, according to reports.
The three women, who are understood to be Brazilian nationals, made an attempt to travel home to Loughrea in Co Galway after absconding from the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Santry.
Yesterday they decided it was time to leave in their own car after spending several days at the hotel and were found by gardai near Loughrea, the Irish Times reports.
They were persuaded to turn back around to the quarantine hotel after the officers spoke to them and gardai have since confirmed that they returned to the hotel.
Gardai responded after receiving reports that the women had left the hotel, but have since said that they will not be commenting further as management of the mandatory quarantine is the responsibility of the Department of Health led by Fianna Fail TD Stephen Donnelly.
It's the second escape attempt at the Dublin Airport quarantine hotel since the mandatory stay was introduced when arriving from "red" list countries.
Last week three people attempted to escape the hotel after arriving into Dublin from Dubai.
The three, who had been given an army escort, are thought to have made a run for it while taking a supervised smoking break.
Travellers are required to pre-book accommodation – €1,875 for a 12-night stay – and to pre-pay for their stay.
In a separate incident, Kirstie McGrath, 30, with an address at St Anthony’s Road, Dublin, and 25-year-old Niamh Mulreany from Scarlett Row, Essex Street West, Dublin, were arrested on Friday afternoon in Dublin Airport after coming back from the UAE.
Defence Forces personnel called Gardai who brought them to Ballymun Garda station and charged them with breaking the Health Act.
They deny the charges and appeared at Tallaght District Court on Saturday.
Two lengthy contested bail hearings took place before an amendment on Sunday saw the women released on bail to isolate at a quarantine hotel.
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