A Cork man was fined £700 at Shannon District Court in Co Clare yesterday after pleading guilty to engaging in threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour on board an aircraft during a flight, writes Eibhir Mulqueen.Mark O'Sullivan (23), of Barrymore Court, Glanmire, Co Cork, travelled home on a Boston-Dublin flight last Sunday to pay a surprise visit to his mother but was arrested at Shannon Airport, having been restrained in his seat by cabin crew members and an off-duty pilot.
The court heard that passengers had been terrified that O'Sullivan would attempt to get off the plane. He had been singing a song to his girlfriend and wanted to continue. Insp Michael Barry said O'Sullivan had been "very, very drunk" over a two-hour period and was verbally abusive to cabin crew attempting to calm him down.
Ms Karen Kearney, solicitor for the defence, said her client was extremely remorseful. The drink had been free of charge and he had had too much.