Some background on how this story came about and the lengths we go to verify stories. https://twitter.com/philip_ryan/status/1264822946708807680

This photo among others were shared on social media showing the Taoiseach in the Phoenix Park with friends on Sunday.

A check of Google Maps and Google image searches showed he was with friends by the Wellington Momument near the Parkgate Street entrance to the Phoenix Park. This distinctive tree was the main clue.

Sources also confirmed the Taoiseach was in the park.

The Wellington Momentum is just under 8km from the Taoiseach’s apartment and, if he was staying there, he would have breached the 5km rule.

However, a query to the Taoiseach’s spokesperson about a potential breach of the 5km rule resulted in a response revealing that he has been staying in the State owned Steward’s Lodge on the Farmleigh Estate which is available to taoisigh for a nightly fee.

This meant he was within the 5km radius from his residence.

And staying in Steward’s Lodge is not a bad way to spend your lockdown as you can see from these photos:

But the main point is that unlike social media, the so-called mainstream media puts work into verifying allegations/videos/images circulating on platforms like Twitter before we publish them.

Separately, it’s hard to see how you could determine categorically that the Taoiseach was breaching the 2m social distancing rule - bar walking up to him and his friends with a measuring tape.