Cranberries singer fined for head-butting and spitting

Dolores O’Riordan has been fined 6,000 euro (£4,690) for head-butting and spitting on a police officer following an alleged air rage incident.

Ms O’Riordan (44) with an address at Friarstown, Kilmallock had admitted three counts of assault and another charge relating to the obstruction a garda at Shannon Airport on November 10, 2014.

As she was being arrested, O’Riordan told officers that she was an “icon” and the Queen of Limerick.

The court heard that as O’Riordan was being arrested she accused Garda Shane Dawson of groping her and sexually assaulting her, a claim which has since been retracted.

Medical reports submitted to Judge Durcan suggested the 44-year-old was suffering hypomania, sleep deprivation and paranoia at the time.

At Ennis District Court in County Clare on Wednesday, a judge said it would be unfair to impose a criminal conviction on O’Riordan.

Cranberries singer Dolores O’Riordan has been ordered to contribute €6,000 to the court poor box following her appearance at Ennis District Court today.

Judge Durcan said: “I’m satisfied on the basis of the medical reports that I have before me that the actions of the defendant in Shannon Airport on November 10 2014 all occurred when the defendant was suffering from a very severe medical illness which completely inhibited her judgment”.

In one incident she jumped off a stationary ambulance and tried to run back towards the Aer Lingus jet while she later escaped from the back of a patrol vehicle before being apprehended by Airport Police and gardai. I pay my taxes so I pay your wages and I am going to sue you. He said as a result of this she was incapable of understanding or recalling what she was doing.

He told the court: “She was quite unwell during this period arising from the devastating effect from the break up of her marriage and not seeing her children”.

“This was a very emotional time for my client and she was not in a good place”, he said.

Originally from County Limerick, O’Riordan became a multi award-winning musician after first singing with the Cranberries when she was just 18.

She spoke to reporters outside court.

He added she was being treated in the same manner as anyone else with no previous convictions.