Woman Fined for Saying Bad Things About English People

May 4, 2026, 11:15
EuropeSociety

Introduction

A woman from Ireland said mean things to hotel workers in Runcorn. A court says she is guilty of a crime.

Main Body

Cait O’Halloran went to a hotel on January 17. She wanted a new room key. She became angry and shouted at the staff. She said English people should die and go to hell. Ms. O’Halloran was very drunk. She did not remember everything. Her lawyer said she is usually a good person. She has no other crimes in her past. The court talked about hate crimes. In England and Wales, there are many race crimes. There were about 98,000 race crimes last year.

Conclusion

The woman must pay £945 in total. She now has a criminal record.

Learning

⚡ THE 'PAST TIME' SHIFT

Look at how the story tells us what happened. To talk about the past, we often just add -ed to the action word.

The Pattern:

  • Want →\rightarrow Wanted
  • Shout →\rightarrow Shouted*

Wait! Some words are 'rebels'. They change completely:

  • Go →\rightarrow Went
  • Say →\rightarrow Said
  • Become →\rightarrow Became

Quick Guide for A2: If you want to tell a story about yesterday, check if the word is a 'regular' (add -ed) or a 'rebel' (change the word).

Vocabulary Learning

woman
A female adult person
Example:The woman walked into the shop.
hotel
A building where people stay overnight
Example:We stayed at a hotel during our vacation.
room
A separate area inside a building
Example:She booked a room for the night.
key
A small metal object used to open locks
Example:I need the key to open the door.
angry
Feeling strong displeasure or annoyance
Example:He was angry after the game.
staff
People who work at a place
Example:The staff at the restaurant were friendly.
people
Human beings in general
Example:Many people attended the concert.
drunk
Affected by alcohol, not sober
Example:He was drunk after the party.
lawyer
A person who gives legal advice
Example:The lawyer advised her on the case.
record
A written or electronic account of events
Example:He kept a record of his expenses.
court
A place where legal cases are decided
Example:The case will be heard in court.
crime
An illegal act that can lead to punishment
Example:Stealing is a crime.