Teresa Morrissey, 23: Drunk pro-footballer bit two staff at Manly Wharf Hotel, court told

For professional footballer Teresa Morrissey, a Sunday afternoon at the pub went bad when she bit two staffers while being escorted from the premises for being drunk.

Professional soccer player Teresa Morrissey, 23, of Castle Hill, who has been in the Young Matildas U/19 Australian football squad and played for the Western Sydney Wanderers in the women's A League, outside Manly Local Court on Wednesday, where she was convicted of biting hotel staff and assaulting police while intoxicated. Picture: Manly Daily

A professional female soccer player who bit two staff at a popular harbourside pub — and then kicked a cop — has been sentenced in a Sydney court.

Teresa Morrissey, 23, who was a goalkeeper in the “Young Matildas” Australia U/19 football squad, was being escorted out of the Manly Wharf Bar for being drunk last month.

Morrissey who also played for the Western Sydney Wanderers in the Women’s A League earlier this year, then bit a security guard’s finger, drawing blood.

She also latched onto a female pub staffer’s wrist as they tried to usher her through the door at the pub on Manly Cove.

A player photograph of Teresa Morrissey, from the Western Sydney Wanderers. Picture: Supplied

Morrissey was convicted on Wednesday after pleading guilty in Manly Local Court to one count each of assault occasioning actual bodily harm; assault police officer; common assault; destroy or damage property and; fail to leave premises when required.

Her solicitor Claire Coelho told the court on Wednesday that Morrissey had a “job as a footballer”, but had an addiction issue that “stems from some trauma”.

Professional soccer player Teresa Morrissey, 23, told the court she had entered a sobriety program and was undergoing mental health rehabilitation. Picture: Manly Daily

The court heard she was battling mental health issues and alcohol problems.

Ms Coelho said Morrissey still had ambitions to return to professional football and that there was the possibility of being recruited to a team overseas.

In a letter of apology tendered to court, Morrissey wrote that she had been under “what I would describe as an insurmountable amount of stress” in the lead up to the offending on Sunday, April 9.

Morrissey wrote that she did not want to use this as an excuse to drink an “excessive amount of alcohol”.

Professional soccer player Teresa Morrissey, outside Manly Local Court on Wednesday, where she was convicted of assaulting hotel staff and police while intoxicated. Picture: Manly Daily

“On this night I consumed it to the point I had no control over my actions.”

She apologised for injuring the two victims.

“It should never have happened … they were just trying to do their job.”

In a facts sheet tendered to court police stated Morrissey had been a the pub since the afternoon before a female compliance officer, for the hotel, approached her at 7pm.

She told the staff member: “I’m not drunk”, but was asked to leave by a security guard.

Police stated that Morrissey tried to run back into the bar area before she was put in a “bear hug” as she struggled with the security guard.

Morrissey “screamed uncontrollably”, threw a drink at the guard and pulled a metal door frame from the wall, causing $1000 damage, the court heard.

The compliance officer and the security guard then held her to the floor. Police stated she then bit the female employee on the wrist for several seconds and then managed to bite the middle finger of the security guard.

As she was being placed in the a police vehicle, she kicked an officer’s arm and hand.

Magistrate Robyn Denes told Morrissey that while she acknowledged she had mental health problems, she was still accountable for her actions that night.

These are not trivial matters,” Ms Denes said.

“You bit someone.”

Ms Denes said since the Covid pandemic, a bite carried a “real risk” for victims.

The magistrate commended Morrissey for getting help as she handed her a Community Corrections Order to be of good behaviour for 18 months and to continue her mental health treatment.