Cait O’Halloran, a 40-year-old Irish woman, was convicted of racially aggravated harassment after abusing staff at a Holiday Inn in Runcorn, northwest England, on Jan. 17, 2026. She was heavily intoxicated when she asked for a replacement key card at reception, then became abusive toward employees, prosecutors said [1].
Prosecutor Umer Zeb told the court a 999 call reported a heavily intoxicated woman verbally abusing staff and said the language was anti-English. He said O’Halloran told two employees: "F*** off and die," and also made remarks including "All British people should die" and "All British people should burn in hell" [1].
The court heard O’Halloran had no previous convictions. Her solicitor, Peter Green, said the incident was out of character and linked to alcohol. He told the court she was mortified by her actions and had only hazy memory of what happened [1].
Magistrate Paula Jones said O’Halloran’s guilty plea and remorse made a difference at sentencing. The court fined her £614 and ordered her to pay £331 in costs and a surcharge [1].
Police recorded about 98,000 race-related hate crimes in England and Wales in the year ending March 2025 [1].
