Gardaí can fine citizens of Northern Ireland for creating non-essential excursions south of the boundary under new regulations currently in effect.

Residents of Northern Ireland were able to prevent punishment if stopped by gardaí beneath Covid-19 regulations, but will now have their name and address obtained along with a 100 fixed-charge punishment issued to their own address.

If criminals don’t pay the penalty within the required 28 days, then a court summons will be issued for their speech as normal.

Gardaí expect the new powers will work as a deterrent and won’t need to be properly used, The Irish Times reports.