A man has been charged with a series of offences following an alleged air rage incident on board a Ryanair flight from Tenerife to Cork earlier this year.
Michael Murphy (35), of Riverview Estate, Tower in Blarney, appeared before Cork District Court on a total of five charges arising out of the incident on the May 1st flight.
Garda Insp Brian O’Donovan said the prosecution would allege Mr Murphy took two paninis without paying for them leading to an incident from which the other charges stemmed.
Mr Murphy was charged with assaulting air stewardess Antonia Villano contrary to Section 2 of the Non-Fatal Offences against the Person Act.
He was also charged with being intoxicated to such an extent on board that he might give rise to a reasonable apprehension that he was a danger to himself or others on the flight.
He was also charged with stealing two paninis valued of €10, the property of Ryanair, on board the flight.
Mr Murphy was further charged with making a threat to Ms Villano to damage property belonging to Ryanair, namely the aeroplane cabin contrary to Section 3 of the Criminal Damage Act.
He was also charged with engaging in threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour with intent to cause a breach of the peace contrary to Section 2A of the Air Navigation and Transport Act.
Judge Olann Kelleher accepted jurisdiction and granted Mr Murphy free legal aid. He adjourned the matter until December 13th.
