Gardaí say 26 pubs around the country are facing prosecution after potential breaches of public health guidelines last weekend.

Investigators carried out checks at nearly 7,000 premises from Friday to Sunday as pubs that serve food were permitted to open for the first weekend since lockdown.

In a statement, they said 2,785 individual licensed premises were found to be open for business.

While the vast majority were following the public health guidelines, gardaí found potential breaches in 26 of them.

Investigators said they failed to rectify the situation even after they were warned and files are now being prepared for the DPP.

The breaches included customers being served alcohol with no evidence of food being eaten and no receipts to show it had been sold.

There were also examples of large groups sitting at tables with “little to no social distancing” and pubs operating with no COVID-19 signage or contact tracing system.

Deputy Commissioner John Twomey said gardaí found a “large level of compliance” in what was a “significant” operation over the weekend.

“However, we remain concerned that a minority are potentially operating in breach of the regulations,” he said.

“In doing so, they are putting the health of their customers and staff and everyone they come into contact with after at risk of getting COVID-19.

“We are sending a clear message to such premises that we will be opposing their liquor license renewal applications in September unless they come into compliance.”

He said the public has “shown great restraint and responsibility” in adhering to the guidelines so far.

“The reality is that COVID-19 is still here,” he said.

“We all have an individual responsibility to ensure we continue to play our part in reducing the spread of COVID-19 to protect our family, friends and neighbours.”

Breaches of public health guidelines are not subject to prosecution in and off themselves; however, failure to follow them can result in public order and licensing law prosecutions.