Some Northern Ireland residents flouting restrictions to travel to Inishowen - Superintendent

He confirmed that a number of these incidents were reported to Gardai on Wednesday, with the town of Moville ‘a high level of concern.’

Supt McGovern said that while most people on both sides of the border are complying with the request not to travel on non-essential journeys, “there definitely is a section of people who think they are entitled to travel from Northern Ireland for social trips here - like trips to supermarkets and holiday homes and they are not.” He stressed that people from Donegal were also not entitled to travel into Northern Ireland.

Supt McGovern confirmed that Gardai in Inishowen have not, as yet issued charges in relation to the enforcement and there are no pending prosecutions.

“Anyone we had reason to speak with complied fully and returned to where they originally came from.”

Operation Fanacht, which was launched by Gardai across Easter weekend, has been extended and Supt McGovern said there will be a ‘particular focus’ on the border this weekend and next.

He added that while there will be a strong presence at the border crossings on main routes, there will also be mobile patrols on the lesser used crossings and back roads.

“We are encouraging people not to travel into this jurisdiction and also people from Donegal not to be travelling into Northern Ireland, unless they have the relevant paperwork to show it is essential.”

He reminded cyclists and anyone travelling to local beauty spots that the 2k exercise limit is from their home.