Jail term for air rage affirmed

A Circuit Court judge yesterday affirmed a District Court ruling that a 37-year-old Derry man serve a one-month jail term arising from an air-rage incident on a transatlantic Aer Lingus flight last December.

At Ennis District Court last January, Judge Joseph Mangan imposed the prison term on Ray McColgan, with a Derry city address, after hearing that flight attendants and passengers feared for their safety on the Boston-Shannon-Dublin flight on December 28th because of McColgan's behaviour.

The District Court was told that McColgan became unruly on the flight after drinking vodka. The court heard that McColgan shouted threats to passengers. He pleaded guilty to being intoxicated on board, disorderly conduct and refusing to desist from his behaviour.

At Ennis Circuit Court, Judge Carroll Moran affirmed the order of the District Court when McColgan did not show up to ensure that his appeal be heard.