Former Irish champion jockey Paul Carberry has appeared in Swords District Court on charges arising from an incident on board an Aer Lingus flight to Dublin.
Carberry (31), Tara, Co Meath, was charged yesterday with behaviour of a threatening, abusive and insulting nature under the Air Navigation and Transport Act.
His barrister Amanda Connelly requested a four-week adjournment of the case. Judge Patrick Brady said he would adjourn until October 18th when Carberry will again appear before Swords District Court.
On October 1st, Carberry was arrested after an Aer Lingus flight from Malaga in Spain touched down in Dublin. He was brought to the airport Garda station at 2.25pm, according to Garda Noel Donnelly. He was remanded on station bail.
Outside the court yesterday, Mr Carberry responded to reports that he had set alight a newspaper on board the flight: "It was an accident. Accidents happen. There was no drink involved."
He added he was "not sure" whether matches or a lighter were used in the alleged incident.
A National Hunt jockey, Carberry won the Aintree Grand National in 1999 on Bobbyjo and was the Irish champion jockey in 2002, when he became the first jockey since Charlie Swan in 1996-1997 to ride a century of winners.