Tipperary woman's 'liquid lunch' led her to verbally abuse gardaí outside courthouse

A woman who shouted expletives at gardaí during the course of a disturbance at Nenagh Courthouse found herself back in court charged with two breaches of public order.

Solicitor Elizabeth McKeever said her client, Jackie Nash, 48, of 40 Copperbeech View, Roscrea, was pleading guilty to being intoxicated in a public place and engaging in threatening and abusive behaviour.

Sgt Regina McCarthy told the court the defendant was attending a sitting in the court on December 9, 2022. Ms Nash was highly intoxicated and roaring and shouting in the building.

When gardaí tried to deal with her she became verbally abusive and called them derogatory names while members of the public were looking on.

Asked by Judge Alan Mitchell if she could give him “a flavour of the language” used by the defendant, Sgt McCarthy said Ms Nash told the gardaí to get their “f...ing hands off me” and kicked out at them and called them “...ing b......s” when they were bringing her across Banba Square to the garda station.

On informing the judge that the incident occurred at 3.40pm, he replied: “So, a liquid lunch it was.”

Ms McKeever said her client was on medication at the time of the incident but conceded that there was “alcohol involved”.

Ms Nash had written a letter of apology to the two gardaí involved, said Ms McKeever

Judge Mitchell imposed a fine of €50 in relation to the drink-related charge and €150 for being threatening and abusive.