A woman who was so drunk she could not stand when gardai found her outside a hostel maintained she was sitting on the ground because she suffered back problems.

Liene Rudzite (45) insisted she only had a couple of drinks but was in pain from her back at the time.

Rudzite, of Swords Manor Grove, Swords, was found guilty of public intoxication but acquitted of threatening, abusive and insulting behaviour.

Judge Marie Quirke said she would leave her without a conviction if she made a €100 charity donation, and adjourned the case.

The prosecuting garda told Dublin District Court he was on duty outside the Generator Hostel on Smithfield Square last June 27.

When he spoke to the accused, she was unable to stand, was slurring her words and urinated on herself.

Abusive

The garda also alleged Rudzite was swearing, abusive and loud, and said: "You will be f**ked in one second. I want all of your jobs, you are all s**ts."

He could not remember her saying anything about her back.

The accused said she was a resident in the hostel on the night and had had a couple of drinks. She was suffering from "terrible back pain" and could not go far without her friend's help.

She was sitting in front of the hostel because of her back, she said, adding that she told gardai this when they asked why she was sitting.

Rudzite denied she was so drunk she was a danger to herself or others, and denied using the words alleged by the garda.

Rudzite had a business degree but was out of work due to health issues, defence solicitor Jenny McGeever said.

Judge Quirke said "people can't go around behaving like this".