Two New Yorkers were in jail last night after pleading guilty to air rage offences that forced an American Airlines flight to divert to Shannon Airport early yesterday.
Both men, one a chartered accountant and the other an architect, looked stunned at Ennis District Court yesterday as their solicitor explained they would be spending the weekend in prison.
This followed Judge Joseph Mangan refusing bail for the two and remanding them in custody to Gort District Court on Monday. Judge Mangan adjourned sentencing to allow gardaí confirm that the two men have no previous convictions.
During two separate incidents on board the flight bound for London involving the accused, Warren Clamen (39) and Guy Sant Arnaud (42), four cabin crew were assaulted.
According to solicitor for the two, Ms Caitríona Carmody, the incident arose from the two men being offended at not being allowed use the toilet in the plane's business class section.
Both men - who are single, live at the same New York address of 55 West 14th Street, but have Canadian passports - pleaded guilty to all charges.
Clamen pleaded guilty to assaulting three flight attendants and to also threatening and abusive behaviour, while Sant Arnaud pleaded guilty to assaulting two flight attendants, the criminal damage of an overhead oxygen mask and threatening and abusive behaviour.
Ms Carmody said that the two men were going for a weekend to London together. "They are genuinely sorry and are in a state of shock.
"It appears that the entire incident stemmed from the men not being allowed use the toilet in the business class area of the plane and they were offended by this. They were seated near the toilet and they reacted badly when they were not allowed to use it."