Cork camogie star Ashling Thompson has opened up about her regrets over a nightclub assault that saw her hit with a €6,000 fine.
The 29-year-old was ordered to hand over the cash to cover charitable donations and the expenses of the victims in the case.
And in a revealing interview with the Sunday Independent's Life magazine, Thompson revealed that she is 'glad to have the incident behind her'.
"I regret that I reacted to the situation," Thompson said. "I should have never reacted to it, I have to take responsibility.
"I hold my hands up, whenever I'm wrong in a situation I'm wrong and I'll take it.
However, Thompson argues that it was a case of her passion taking over, adding: "I'm extremely passionate and I'm very proud of who I am and I'm not going to let anybody take away what I've achieved in life."
And she slammed 'media bullies' who she claims escalated the case, saying "Lots of people have been in that situation, but if you don't have a profile, it's not news.
"Which is not to take away from what happened, but I don't think it's fair at the same time to be subjected to that.
"I don't think it's fair on anyone to be subject to the sort of harassment [that I have gone through], I think it's bullying.
"I think the media are bullies to a certain extent... When you're up, you're up and everybody loves you, and when you're down everybody wants to kick you."
Thompson, 29, pleaded guilty earlier this year to assaulting Jennifer Coakley, on February 25, 2018 at Secret Garden in Rearden's, Washington Street in Cork city.
And last month she entered a plea of guilty to a charge of assaulting a second woman, Aoife O'Flaherty, on the same night in the club.
Cork District Court heard that the two assaults occurred within 90 minutes of each other.
Eddie Burke, solicitor, representing Ms Thompson said that his client was "intoxicated" on the night of the assaults and that alcohol clearly did not suit her.
Judge Con O'Leary Ms Thompson to pay €2,500 to charities Edel House and €1,000 to Cuan Lee as well as €2,000 to Coakley and €500 to Flaherty.
And after 'taking a step back' from county duties for Cork but continuing to play with her club Milford, Thompson admitted that she is now considering moving to Australia to play in Australian Football Women's League; the AFLW.
"This is a forced decision, but I can see it as a massive opportunity, I feel like now is a new beginning rather than something negative."
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