The teenager appeared before Enniskillen Magistrates Youth Court on Wednesday after pleading guilty to using disorderly behaviour in a public place on June 25th last. 

The court heard that at 12.45am on the date in question, police were called to McDonald’s at Cathcart Square, Enniskillen to reports from staff of an abusive customer who was refusing to leave. 

The youth was found to be verbally abusing both staff and other customers. When police arrived, they offered to bring the defendant home but she refused before being arrested. She then struggled with police officers and started kicking chairs in the premises. 

Defence barrister Ciaran Roddy said that by all accounts, this had been “an unpleasant and unsavoury incident”.

“The defendant is lucky that no other offences have been levelled against her. It is not the case that she is barred from the premises due to the attitude of the manager who was surprised to learn that the matter had been brought to court. 

She had not come before the court prior to her 16th birthday but she had become associated with a negative peer group and took a number of unfortunate turns, much to the upset of her parents.”

Mr Roddy added that the girl was currently exploring her educational options with a view to returning to college and presents herself as “bright and articulate”. 

 Deputy District Judge Amanda Brady noted from a youth conference report prepared for the case that the girl had passed her exams which she said showed that “there is potential there”. 

Addressing the defendant, the judge said: “You are a young girl with a lot of potential and did well in your exams. While you have taken a wrong turn, you seem determined to get back on track and I hope that you don’t waste time and do enrol for college to further your education.

“ I understand that you intend to write to the manager of McDonald’s who had the unpleasant experience of having to deal with your behaviour. I hope that you will apologise to her in that letter.”