The four men found not guilty in the Golf Gate trial may have broken the spirit of the law rather than the word of the law.
That's according to Sligo Leitrim TD Marian Harkin who says although those involved in the court case were found not guilty, the event still must be considered in the context of the time.
TD Noel Grealish, former Fianna Fáil Senator Donie Cassidy, the hotel owner, John Sweeney and its GM, his son James all appeared before Galway District Court over the last number of weeks charged with breaching pandemic health restrictions.
In dismissing the charges yesterday, Judge Mary Fahy stated she had no doubt that everything was done to comply with the rules at the event.
Speaking on the Joe Finnegan Show this morning, Deputy Harkin says the court ruling it a legal gathering did not make it the right decision to host at the time.
The Independent TD says the spirit of the law is often just as important as the word:
