A man sent to jail after disrupting the funeral of a friend last month with a violent outburst has publicly apologised in a letter.
Stephen John Hurring, 59, of Balclutha, was sentenced to five months' jail last month after disrupting the funeral of South Otago man Ken Milne.
Mr Hurring said in a letter to the Otago Daily Times sent from the Otago Corrections Facility that he had been released from prison four hours before the funeral and that, combined with a "couple of beers" and fresh air, had an adverse effect on his health and mentality.
Mr Hurring said he took exception to the speaker's description of his dead friend as a "good bloke."
"I took exception to good, as terrific, brilliant, amazing, marvellous, was what Kenny was. Good just didn't cut it in my intoxicated state."
A Milne family spokesman said they had received a general apology about Mr Hurring's behaviour, but did not receive a letter.
Last month, the court was told an intoxicated Hurring was standing in the foyer at the funeral and became verbally abusive, yelling vulgarities and causing distress to mourners.
When asked to leave, Hurring refused and caused a commotion, disrupting the funeral, assaulting an off-duty constable as he was being removed, and assaulting another constable back at the police station.