Too much drink at his gran's funeral led to a man causing a rumpus on a flight to Bristol, a court heard. But after thumping a passenger and headbutting a member of cabin crew, he was spared immediate custody.
Patrick McDonagh was aboard a Ryanair flight from Dublin to Bristol in January, Bristol Crown Court was told. After smoking in a toilet and swaying back to his seat, he caused a commotion after the aircraft landed, the captain called police and McDonagh was arrested.
The 46-year-old, whose address was given as Cranbourne Road in Stratford, pleaded guilty to two charges of assault. He also admitted to smoking on an aircraft and being drunk on an aircraft.
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Judge William Hart handed him a six-month prison sentence suspended for 15 months. He told McDonagh: "You were very much affected by grief. You behaved in a way which was out of character."
McDonagh was handed 120 hours' unpaid work. He was also told to pay each assault victim £150 compensation and pay £350 in prosecution costs.
Alicia Doble, prosecuting, said the aircraft's seat belt lights were switched on when McDonagh went to a toilet. A few minutes later, he emerged from the toilet and swayed to his seat, the court heard.
A cabin crew member smelled smoke in the toilet, saw a cigarette butt in the pan and alerted the captain, who informed police. As the aircraft landed, McDonagh stood to put his coat on but was advised to sit down and an argument ensued between him and his partner.
Miss Doble said passengers became involved and McDonagh struck one and headbutted a cabin crew member. He was arrested and taken into police custody.
McDonagh told police he had downed 10 to 12 pints of Guinness. In an interview, he said he couldn't recall boarding or getting off the aircraft after attending his gran's funeral.
Lana Murphy, defending, said the offences were out of character for her client. She said a reference for him described him as "an honourable and dependable man".
Miss Murphy said the remorseful father-of-eight had attended his gran's funeral and had a drink for the first time in 12 years, while on medication. She said he had no recollection of the incident on the aircraft but accepted facts alleged by the prosecution. Miss Murphy added that the assaults happened when the aircraft was on the tarmac.
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