A DUNMANWAY woman found in a drunken state outside a bar just two days before Christmas went back to the bar at a later stage and asked staff not to serve her in future, a court heard.

Melissa O’Connell (49) of 5 Summerfield, Dunmanway pleaded guilty at Clonakilty District Court to being drunk in a public place and using or engaging in threatening, abusive words or behaviour on December 23rd last.

Sgt Tom Mulcahy told the court that at 1am gardaí responded to a report of a woman drunk outside The Shamrock Bar in Dunmanway.

‘On arrival they found the defendant outside the premises shouting and roaring and trying to get back in. At one stage she kicked the front door and called out ‘useless ghouls’. She was then arrested for public order offending,’ said Sgt Mulcahy.

The court heard she has 31 previous convictions which include public order offences, including a probation bond last September to keep the peace for 12 months.

Judge Joanne Carroll remarked that Ms O’Connell is ‘behaving like that’ just three months later at Christmas.

Defence solicitor Conrad Murphy said his client apologises to the gardaí for her comments which she said was directed at the people inside the bar and not at them.

‘She actually went back to the bar and asked them not to serve her in the future,’ said Mr Murphy.

He said his client went for addiction treatment to Tabor Lodge 17 years ago which he said worked to a certain extent but has since slipped off the wagon once or twice.

‘She is currently doing a number of courses and hoping to get a job from that. She also attends AA meetings online three times a week.’

Judge Carroll said it might be a good idea for Ms O’Connell to physically attend AA meetings and directed her to pay €150 to the court poor box.

She applied the Probation Act for the drunk in public charge and struck the other charge out.