Librarian faces court over 'air rage'

A 32-YEAR-OLD librarian is to reappear in court today charged in connection with three alleged “air-rage” offences that forced a flight to divert to Shannon airport on Saturday.

At a special sitting of Ennis District Court on Saturday, Harold Albrecht, from Austria, secured bail in the case to reappear before the court today.

Some 200 passengers en route from Washington to Vienna were forced to divert to Shannon airport shortly after 7am on Saturday morning following the alleged incident involving Mr Albrecht.

On landing at Shannon, local gardaí arrested Mr Albrecht and he was taken to Shannon Garda station for questioning.

At the special sitting of Ennis District Court on Saturday, Mr Albrecht appeared on a charge of engaging in behaviour of a threatening, abusive or insulting nature whether by word or gesture with intent to cause a breach of the peace on board the flight.

He is also charged with engaging in behaviour likely to cause serious offence or annoyance to any person on board the aircraft, having been requested by a member of the aircraft to cease such behaviour.

Mr Albrecht is also charged with being intoxicated to such an extent as would give rise to a reasonable apprehension that he might endanger himself or other persons on board the aircraft.

The offences alleged are contrary to sections of the Air Navigation and Transport Act.

Giving evidence of arrest, charge and caution, Garda Noel O’Rourke said Mr Albrecht made “no reply” when charged.

In court, Insp Tom Kennedy said gardaí were objecting to bail on grounds Mr Albrecht was a flight risk, as he had no ties in Ireland. Insp Kennedy said it was not clear whether Mr Albrecht had any resources, and said the State was seeking a remand in custody.

The court was told Mr Albrecht was a professional librarian and was returning from a five-week internship in the US, where he was studying the Holocaust.

Solicitor for the defendant, Jenny Fitzgibbon, said Mr Albrecht was well travelled because of his work and was “career-driven”. She said it was erroneous to describe Mr Albrecht as a flight risk, stating he was willing to abide by any conditions set down by the court.

Insp Kennedy said the maximum penalty in the cases concerned was four months, and that the Director of Public Prosecutions had ruled the case could be disposed of in the District Court.

Insp Kennedy said he was impressed by a letter handed into court on Mr Albrecht’s behalf by Ms Fitzgibbon. He told the court gardaí had possession of Mr Albrecht’s passport.

Judge Aeneas McCarthy said he would grant bail on condition Mr Albrecht sign on twice daily at Shannon Garda station, remain sober, stay in Shannon and lodge his own bond of €300.

He remanded Mr Albrecht on bail to reappear before Ennis District Court today.