Passenger charged over assaulting Aer Lingus air steward

A man has been remanded on bail after he was charged with assaulting a female air steward and engaging in abusive and threatening behaviour on board an Aer Lingus flight from Paris to Cork.

Richard Barry, of West Three, Sliema, Malta, was arrested at Cork Airport on Monday night when the flight landed and the 62-year-old was taken to Togher Garda station.

Mr Barry was brought before Cork District Court on Tuesday where Garda Ray Prendiville gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution in relation to both the assault and public order offences.

He is charged with engaging in behaviour of a threatening, abusive or insulting nature on board Aer Lingus Flight EI823 Paris to Cork within the jurisdiction of the State on September 25th.

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The State alleges that Mr Barry engaged in the behaviour, whether by word or gesture, with intent to cause a breach of the peace or being reckless as to whether a breach of the peace was caused.

Garda Prendiville told the court that when he put the charge to Mr Barry after being cautioned, he replied: “I deny it, totally false.”

The offence is contrary to Section 2A(3) and Section 2A(4) of the Air Navigation and Transport Act 1973 as inserted by Section 65 of the Air Navigation and Transport (Amendment) Act 1998.

Mr Barry was further charged with assaulting Aer Lingus air steward Louise Santry at Cork Airport on the same date contrary to Section 2 of Non -Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997.

Garda Prendiville told the court that when he similarly put this charge of assaulting Ms Santry to Mr Barry after caution, Mr Barry replied: “I completely deny it.”

Defence solicitor, Amy Murphy said that her client was not ready to proceed with the case and was seeking bail to have the case heard on another date.

Insp Finbarr O'Sullivan said gardaí were not objecting to bail and Judge Olann Kelleher remanded Mr Barry on his own cash bail of €300 to appear again at Cork District Court on October 24th.