More than 100 coronavirus-related fines handed out in the north over the Easter weekend

The vast majority followed instructions but a small number did not.

Police in Northern Ireland have issued over 100 fines to people who breached coronavirus rules over the Easter weekend. PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Alan Todd told Good Morning Ulster the vast majority of people abided by the instructions from Northern Ireland Executive and the health service and remained a home, avoiding non-essential journeys. Todd said the fines were issued to people “who should not have been where they were and wouldn’t listen to the advice of officers when it was given”. The police noticed a trend among a small section of the public who were having house parties or barbecues over the weekend with a "substantial" number of people in a small space. On one or two occasions the number of people at these gatherings was over a dozen. "You will get some people who either choose to ignore it or think they can get away with it," Todd said. "By and large the vast majority of those people also took the advice and guidance when given that by officers. "However, as always you get people who neither understand or follow the restrictions or indeed listen to the advice and guidance. "So we have issued 107 fines since Friday morning through into this morning. So over three days there has been 107 fines to people who shouldn't have been where they were and wouldn't listen to the advice and guidance of officers when it was brought to their attention." Under the current rules in Northern Ireland, people are told to stay at home unless they have a reasonable excuse such as exercise, grocery shopping, healthcare or work related travel.