Gemma O’Doherty and John Waters appeal Covid laws

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

Gemma O’Doherty and John Waters opened their appeal against the dismissal of their challenge to Covid-19 laws at the Supreme Court on 15 March 2022.

The appeal concerned whether they should have been granted permission to seek judicial review of measures they say restricted constitutional rights and were disproportionate. The Supreme Court agreed to consider limited questions about rights and proportionality.

The High Court refused permission in May 2020, finding their claims were not arguable and that they had provided no expert evidence or facts supporting their position. The Court of Appeal dismissed their appeal last year.

The Supreme Court hearing opened with submissions from the applicants. The State opposed the appeal, and the court was due to consider its submissions that afternoon.

This report covers an earlier stage of the case. Later developments are not reported here.