Healy-Raes decline to comment on video of alleged Covid-19 breaches in Kerry pub

Son of Danny Healy-Rae says family looking into circumstances of clips posted online

Kerry TDs Danny and Michael Healy-Rae have declined to comment on a video and photograph that emerged online. Photograph: Alan Betson
Kerry TDs Danny and Michael Healy-Rae have declined to comment on a video and photograph that emerged online. Photograph: Alan Betson

Kerry TDs Danny and Michael Healy-Rae have declined to comment on a video and photograph that emerged on social media purporting to show breaches of Covid-19 regulations in the Jackie Healy-Rae Bar in Kilgarvan.

A compilation of clips posted on platforms such as Snapchat, first reported on by Radio Kerry, appears to have been shot in the bar and its vicinity.

It is understood to date back to last Sunday, when a vintage day was taking place in the village.

The footage shows people dancing and standing around drinking inside the premises without wearing face coverings and others being served at the bar counter, activities which are not permitted under the Covid-19 restrictions currently in place.

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Some of those dancing are standing on tables, with others topless and swinging their shirts around.

Dancing

At one point in the video Danny Healy-Rae, who owns the bar, is grabbed by a dancing woman as he steps out of the pub on to the street.

A still image was also circulating on Facebook on Thursday purporting to be from an event last month.

The image shows Danny Healy-Rae standing without a mask pulling a pint behind the bar. In front of the bar are up to 30 people posing for a photograph. The guests include Michael Healy-Rae and none of those in the photograph are wearing a mask.

Neither Danny or Michael Healy-Rae wished to say anything when contacted by The Irish Times. Danny Healy-Rae earlier told Radio Kerry he was not aware of the gathering in the pub which features in the video and that he had not seen the clips in question at the time. Michael Healy-Rae said had not seen the image and had been at clinics all day on Thursday.

Cllr Johnny Healy-Rae, Danny Healy-Rae’s son and a councillor for the Kenmare area, told RTÉ the family was looking at the circumstances of the video clips and may have a comment later.

Sources close to the Healy-Raes confirmed the videos were from last Sunday.