A Canadian woman who has obsessive compulsive disorder has claimed that an airline "overreacted big time" when it diverted to Shannon and had her arrested after she removed her clothing and then appeared in front of passengers almost naked.
Wanda Hepditch (51), a mother of two from Ontario, appeared at Shannon District Court in Ennis yesterday where she faced two charges under the Air Navigation and Transport Act following an incident on board a Sky Services flight from Rome to Toronto last Monday night.
The flight, with 370 passengers and 13 crew on board, diverted to Shannon. Ms Hepditch was met by three gardaí at 11.40pm, arrested and taken to Shannon Garda station.
She originally appeared at Athenry District Court in Co Galway on Tuesday charged with two offences. She was remanded on bail of €500 to Shannon District Court yesterday. She had to surrender her passport.
Insp Tom Kennedy told the court yesterday that the flight was 100 miles west of Shannon when Ms Hepditch went to a toilet, removed her clothing and began washing them in the sink.
Later, she emerged almost naked and sought the assistance of a passenger in retrieving clothes from the overhead locker.
The inspector told Judge Aeneas McCarthy that staff then covered the woman with blankets and had difficulty getting her to resume her seat. It was also alleged that she became abusive with passengers as well as staff.
Solicitor Caitríona Carmody said her client was a married woman with two grown-up children who worked full time for the social assistance office in Ontario.
"She suffers from major depression and is a diagnosed obsessive compulsive. A passenger near her moved and her tray spilled on her clothing. She became very anxious as a result and went to the bathroom to clean up.
"When she sought assistance from a passenger, the passenger became alarmed. Staff said she could not have clothes from the overhead locker and gave her a blanket. Staff were not aware of the circumstances. She was also given a written warning from the captain to which she took offence. She then recalls hearing an announcement that the flight was diverting to Shannon."
Ms Carmody handed in a lengthy medical report from a professor of psychiatry in Canada who had treated her client for several years.
Judge McCarthy said: "There was a clear breakdown in communication between the airline staff and this passenger. They had no understanding of what this woman suffers from. It is clear from this report that she has suffered in the past from depression. She did ask a stewardess for clothing from her luggage because her clothing was no longer wearable because they had been soiled by another passenger.
"Because she suffers from obsessive compulsive disorder, and hygiene is obviously a priority, this was quite traumatic for her."
Applying the Probation Act, Judge McCarthy said: "There was no criminal intent on the part of this lady. This matter arose from an illness she suffers from. While the court takes very, very seriously any misbehaviour on board aircraft, particularly if forced to divert to Shannon, in these circumstances mental health problems had a part to play.
"I am applying the Probation Act only because of the unique set of circumstances in this particular case. There was no intention to disrupt the flight and no criminal intent."
Ms Hepditch said later: "I am concerned though that I now have a reputation and that my boss will find out about this."
Asked if she thought the airline overreacted, she said: "Yes, big time," before she was ushered away by another solicitor.