A JUDGE has advised a woman to stay off alcohol and get herself a job after hearing that she was found asleep on a bench in a local shopping centre.

Eva O’Leary of 11 Cedar Views, Coolfada, Bandon pleaded guilty at Bandon District Court to being drunk in a public place.

Sgt Eimear O’Connell told Judge Joanne Carroll that at 4.15pm on February 18th last the accused was found asleep on a bench in the Riverview Shopping Centre.

‘Gda Aherne arrived there and observed that she was drunk and he arrested her for her own safety,’ said Sgt O’Connell.

The court heard that she has 23 previous convictions including seven for being drunk in a public place, four for theft and three for driving without insurance.

Defence solicitor Plunkett Taaffe said his client suffers from chronic alcoholism and has been before the courts numerous times as a result of her addiction.

‘She was in a toxic relationship and he too was an alcoholic but that relationship ended and she is on her own after an assault by him,’ said Mr Taaffe.

He added that she is on disability and isn’t currently working but is attending AA meetings on Sunday mornings in Bandon.

Judge Joanne Carroll asked why she wasn’t attending more meetings and Ms O’Leary said that she would have to walk home in the dark alone after evening meetings.

Judge Carroll suggested to her that with the evenings getting brighter she should attend more AA meetings, putting her on probation for nine months on condition that she attend for alcohol addiction treatment.

‘Try and stay off alcohol and maybe you should get yourself a job,’ she advised.