Irish women arrested for refusing quarantine after trip to Dubai for cosmetic surgery

Friends claimed to have run out of money and could not pay for mandatory hotel stay

A view of a military presence at Dublin airport in March to ensure hotel quarantine is enforced. Getty Images

Ireland requires travellers from high-risk countries stay in mandatory 12-day hotel quarantine at their own cost. Getty Images.

A passenger is escorted to a bus to be taken from the airport in Dublin to the Crowne Plaza hotel for quarantine. Getty Images

Airline passengers in Dublin leave the bus to enter the Crowne Plaza hotel to begin their period of quarantine. Image: Getty Images

The Crowne Plaza hotel near Dublin airport, which is being used for 12-day quarantine. Getty Images

Irish Army personnel leave the Crowne Plaza hotel after assisting in the transfer of airline passengers. Getty Images

A bus leaves the Crowne Plaza hotel after dropping off airline passengers. Getty Images

Two women have been arrested in Ireland after they refused to go into hotel quarantine following a trip to Dubai.

Niamh Mulreany, 25, and Kristie McGrath, 30, had flown to the UAE to undergo cosmetic surgery, despite rules in Ireland that allow only 'essential travel'.

The friends were arrested at Dublin Airport on Friday after claiming they had run out of money and could not pay for mandatory hotel quarantine.

Under Ireland's strict Covid-19 rules, arrivals are required to stay in hotel quarantine for 12 days if they have travelled to specific countries.

Anyone caught breaking these regulations can be fined €2,000 ($2,350), with a maximum sentence of up to one month in jail.

According to reports, the women had initially been denied boarding at Dubai airport after revealing they did not have the €1,850 needed to pay for quarantine in Dublin.

They then spent two days in Dubai airport and the nearby area, before Ireland's Department of Foreign Affairs granted their request to return.

It was their second visit to the Middle East in just a few weeks.

The pair were charged with breaking the Health Act and appeared in court in the Irish capital on Saturday, reports the Irish Independent.

In court, it was heard the women had been in Dubai to undergo cosmetic treatment at a Dubai clinic.

A lawyer for the women said his clients did not have funds for the quarantine stay, but had provided three negative tests to authorities. The legal representative also applied for bail and said the women had caring duties for their children at home.

A judge granted their bail application but ordered money in their bank accounts to be frozen and passports surrendered.

The judge ordered the women to serve out the 14-day quarantine period from Tuesday once the bail money is paid. They will be allowed to return home if they complete the full quarantine period, or can provide a negative test after 10 days.

Their cases will resume on April 9 at Dublin District Court.

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