Sign into an existing account

A granny who refuses to wear a mask in shops has been jailed for the weekend.


Margaret Buttimer has appeared in court for a second time unmasked and was held in contempt by the judge who sent her to jail until Monday.


Despite efforts by her concerned family, her partner who wore a mask, the judge and her solicitor to persuade her to obey the law, Buttimer continues to ignore everyone and claimed she only answers to God.


The 66-year-old granny of The Cottage, St Fintan's Road, Bandon appeared before Bandon District Court after attending Clonakilty District Court earlier this week, charged with refusing to wear a mask at Dunnes Stores in the town on February 12 last. She was found guilty of the offence of not wearing a mask in breach of Covid-19 regulations.


Judge Colm Roberts was told that Buttimer abused the store manager when he asked her if there was a medical reason why she wasn't wearing a face covering.


She refused to answer the manager's questions before eventually telling him that she only answered to God.


Buttimer told the court she did not believe in masks and it was her choice not to wear one, to which the judge replied it was also her choice not to enter a shop without wearing one.


Today she entered the Bandon Courthouse again not wearing a mask and proceeded to smile at the judge, who told her: "This is not funny. I don't think you are appreciating the seriousness of this".


He said she had turned up in the body of the court "without a mask but worse still a smile on her face as if this is something to smile about."


He admitted: "The last thing I want to do is jail her for contempt. "She has created a situation where I have no other option.


"She is undermining the rules of the court and the country. Her viewpoint makes no logical sense.