Former Fermanagh GAA star Seamus Quigley has been warned that “alcohol will destroy your life” after he pleaded guilty to drink-fuelled public order offences.

The 25-year-old footballer from Rosslea was fined €1,000 and bound over to keep the peace for two years when he appeared at Monaghan District Court.

Judge Sean MacBride also ordered Quigley to undergo an alcohol treatment course and behavioural therapy.

The judge told him he was a “lucky man” not to be going to prison. He had burnt all his bridges with the court, and even after being given two previous chances, “the penny still didn’t drop.” He told Quigley: “You have got to deal with these issues or alcohol will destroy your life. You have a talent, and why don’t you use it?” Judge MacBride said he had recently read how Fermanagh football manager Peter McGrath had lost patience with Quigley over discipline issues.

The judge told Quigley that the court had taken “enough nonsense from the likes of you”.

Describing him as a disgrace to his team and county, the judge also asked Quigley what sort of role model he thought he was for younger players.

The court had heard that at 3am on April 14, 2012, a large crowd had gathered at The Diamond in Clones, waiting to get lifts home after emerging from a disco.

Garda James Forde said he had been dealing with a minor incident when Quigley attempted to become involved. There was a strong smell of alcohol from him and his speech was slurred. He was asked to desist but became verbally abusive.

The garda said he did not wish to demean the court by repeating the vulgar language used by Quigley.

Garda Forde said there were a lot of people present and Quigley had again been asked to refrain from this behaviour. He had to be asked a third time before he left the area, and by that stage he had bared his chest.

The garda said that when Quigley was told he would be issued with a summons in respect of his behaviour he replied: “Don’t worry James, I’ll get off with it!” Judge MacBride also heard that Quigley had previously been given the benefit of having public order charges dismissed under the Probation of Offenders Act, on not one, but two occasions.

At Clones District Court on November 12, 2010, he was given the Probation Act for assaulting a local publican, while in Carrickmacross District Court on January 26, 2011, he had a case dismissed under the Act for a public order offence.

Defence solicitor Lynda Smyth said Quigley accepted that his behaviour was disgraceful and that he could not control himself when drinking.

On taking the stand, Quigley agreed with Ms Smyth that his behaviour on the night was quite appalling, and he apologised to Garda Forde for his childishness and bad manners. He said it was all down to drink, adding that he had stopped drinking and changed his ways.

However, Judge MacBride reminded Quigley that when he was before the court for a previous offence he had stated that it was a “once off” and that he was training hard.

On being pressed on this by the judge, Quigley admitted he had not completely given up the drink but had “slowed down”.

Judge MacBride told him that if he had stopped drinking the court would have some respect for him. This was an issue he would have to deal with while he still had time, and if he did so he would certainly have the entire backing of the GAA.

“But you are only fooling yourself”, the judge told Quigley, adding: “If you think you can take just one sip and put a cork in the bottle you are sadly mistaken.”