Judge gives woman six months for racially abusing security staff in Cork City shop

Her solicitor told the court: 'When she is not sober, things deteriorate.'

Judge Dorgan imposed a total sentence of six months on the accused. The judge said if the young woman appeals the sentence a condition of the bail will be that she stays out of all shops in the city centre. File photo

A woman verbally abused a member of security staff at a Cork city centre store as a “black c***” and now she has been jailed for six months arising out of the incident.

Kelsie Flynn, aged 26, of no fixed address pleaded guilty to charges of engaging in threatening behaviour and being obstructive to a garda who arrived to investigate the matter.

Solicitor Frank Buttimer said there was an immediate plea of guilty from the accused. “Once arrested, she did not want to apply for bail, she is minimising State difficulty, putting the State to no burden in terms of proving the matters,” Mr Buttimer said.

He said the young woman spent 16 months in custody before being released last April.

“She came out of prison very well but she regressed over the past four weeks, partly as a result of people not well motivated to her and she ended up taking tablets. I know it is a bad situation for shopkeepers and she apologises,” the solicitor said.

Judge Mary Dorgan said: “I hear what she called security staff who were doing their jobs. It is very unacceptable - and what she said to the guards.” 

Mr Buttimer said: “When she is not sober, things deteriorate.” 

Sergeant John Kelleher said Kelsie Flynn has 13 convictions for being drunk and a danger, and 34 for theft.

Judge Dorgan imposed a total sentence of six months on the accused. The judge said if the young woman appeals the sentence a condition of the bail will be that she stays out of all shops in the city centre.