A garda caught Covid-19 after coming in contact with a chef who went on a shoplifting spree knowing he had coronavirus.
The unnamed officer became infected after the arrest of Wesley Geraghty, who was jailed last week for theft and leaving his residence in breach of the Health Act.
A judge said the 43-year old thief was like a “loaded gun” for going out shoplifting knowing he had tested positive for Covid-19.
The General Secretary of the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors Antoinette Cunningham confirmed that one of the officers who came into contact with Geraghty has contracted the disease.
She said that this case highlights the dangers faced by officers in the line of duty and why they should be vaccinated.
In a tweet, she stated: “Unfortunately one of our Garda colleagues has now also tested positive for #COVID19 as a result of dealing with this incident on Friday..this is why @AGSI_Ireland are saying (the) Government must urgently consider an Occupational Vaccination Programme for front line high risk jobs.”
She had earlier said that it should not be a difficulty to get all gardaí vaccinated, adding that the “confrontational and high-risk job they do speaks for itself”.
She said gardaí need a “proper” vaccination roll-out programme that runs in tandem with the current system.
She said the officer who was infected after coming in contact with this shoplifter highlights the danger to gardai when making arrests of those who may be carrying the virus.
Geraghty, with a hostel address at Mary’s Abbey, Dublin 7, was given a €200 fine and jailed for four months after he pleaded guilty to theft and leaving his residence in breach of the Health Act.
Garda Sergeant William Quirke told Judge Miriam Walsh that Geraghty, who had 97 prior criminal convictions, was arrested at Marks & Spencer on Grafton Street where a security guard stopped him taking €450 worth of cosmetics last Friday.
He admitted to gardai he had Covid-19 and was directed to return to his isolation hostel and told he would be dealt with at a later stage.
Sentencing, Judge Walsh said Geraghty was wandering around the streets when he was supposed to be in quarantine.
He was a “loaded gun basically in relation to the Health Act”, she remarked.
