Margaret Buttimer, of The Cottage, St Fintan’s Road, Bandon appeared before Clonakilty District Court earlier this week for refusing to wear a mask at Dunnes Stores in the town on 12 February.Judge Colm Roberts was told that Ms Buttimer abused the store manager when he asked her if there was a medical reason why she was not wearing a face covering
She was found guilty of the offence of not wearing a mask in breach of Covid-19 regulations.Ms Buttimer refused to answer the manager’s queries before eventually telling him that she only answered to God.
Gardaí arrived at the scene. She informed them that she was only answerable to God.She refused to provide her details and declined to wear a mask when she was brought to a garda station.She told the court she did not believe in masks but that she was sorry for calling the manager a name and hoped he would find it in his heart to forgive her.
Today, Ms Buttimer arrived at a sitting of Bandon District Court, again without wearing a mask.Judge Roberts said that the last thing he wanted to do was jail Ms Buttimer for contempt.She will also appear in court in relation to other similar charges on the 14 June next.
Judge Roberts told her she was entitled to her relationship with God, but not to the detriment of society.