Mother of 15 fined €150 after ‘hell for leather’ row

A mother of 15 who rarely gets out went “hell for leather” in a drunken row with another woman in Ballincollig, Co Cork, a court has heard.

Judge Aingil Ní Chondúin described the behaviour of Ann Mongans, of 144 Greenhills Court, South Douglas Rd, Cork, as a shocking waste of Garda time.

Insp Pat Meaney said the incident, which occured outside a pub at Main St, Ballincollig, Co Cork, came to the attention of gardaí on the night of Sept 17, 2011.

“Two females were in a drunken verbal row,” Insp Meaney said. “They were very intoxicated. One of them was Ann Mongans. They were asked to desist and they refused to do so.”

Donal Daly, solicitor, said at Cork District Court that Mongans was pleading guilty to engaging in threatening behaviour on the night.

“She is 48 years old and has 15 children,” said Mr Daly. “She rarely gets out. She was out for a social event on this night.

“The young lady with whom she had the verbal altercation was known to her. There had been trouble between the families in the past.

“Drink was flowing and one word borrowed another. Outside the public house, one said one thing and one said another. Gardaí were called when it became a hell-for-leather row between the ladies,”

Mr Daly said there had been no trouble between the two parties since, and added that none of the abuse on the night was directed at gardaí.

“It was a shocking waste of Garda time,” the judge said as she imposed a €150 fine on Mongans.