Irish expats hit with $25,000 in fines for flouting social distancing laws as cops break up their house party ending at 7.45 in the MORNING
- 15 revealers were hit with $1652 fines for breaking strict social distancing rules
- They held a wild house-party over Saturday night and into Sunday morning
- When police arrived the party-goers allegedly blocked officers from entering
- Learn more about how to help people impacted by COVID
A group of Irish expats have been slapped with almost $25,000 in fines after police broke up an all-night house party in Melbourne at 7:45am on Sunday morning.
The party at Bentleigh East in Melbourne’s south-east started on Saturday night and continued into Sunday morning in breach of the state’s strict isolation rules.
Victoria Police Deputy Commissioner Shane Patton said on Tuesday each of the 15 people inside were slapped with a $1652 fine – a total of $24,780.
A group of 15 Irish expats have each been slapped with a $1652 fine after police raided a house party in Melbourne (stock image)
‘They were having quite the party as I understand,’ Dep Comm Patton said.
‘We eventually had an authorised officer from the Department of Health and Human Services assist us and we gained entry at about 7:45am because it was a very big party so we gave them all infringement notices.
He said police try to use discretion when handing out social distancing fines, but these party-goers were uncooperative and tried to hinder officers.
‘They weren’t compliant, they weren’t letting us in and so that’s deliberate, that’s obvious, that’s blatant,’ he said.
Victoria Police Deputy Commissioner Shane Patton (left) said the party-goers attempted to block police from entering the building
It was the second high profile breach in Melbourne on the weekend.
Victoria Police fined the parents of an eight-year-old $1,652 after they held a birthday party for him in breach of social distancing rules.
At least 16 parents and children were seen standing outside a home in Beaumaris, 20km south-east of the CBD, on the weekend.
Some of the party-goers appeared to be breaking the 1.5metre social distancing rule as well as flouting guidelines banning public gatherings of more than two people.
Victoria Police issued the fine to the party’s organiser but none of the people in attendance were hit with an infringement.
At least 16 people attended an eight-year-old’s birthday party in Beaumaris, Melbourne on the weekend