Captain turned plane around after hearing passenger inappropriately touched teen, court hears
Gordon Deegan
A captain of an Aer Lingus Boston-bound flight turned the aircraft around over the Atlantic Ocean after being informed that a male passenger had inappropriately touched a teenage girl sitting beside him on the flight, a court has heard.
At Ennis District Court today, a 57-year old County Galway man appeared in connection with being charged with two counts of sexually assaulting the then 16 year old girl on board the E1 135 Shannon to Boston flight on November 15th, 2023.
Det Garda Ruth O’Sullivan told the court that the cost to Aer Lingus of returning the Boston-bound aircraft to Shannon is €28,213.
Giving an outline of the alleged sexual assaults, Det Garda O’Sullivan said that the flight had departed Shannon at around 2:30pm, stating that an hour into the transatlantic flight at around 3:30pm, a young girl informed cabin crew that a male passenger sitting beside her had touched her inappropriately.
“They then informed the captain who took a decision to turn the flight back to Shannon for the safety of all on board," she said.
She said that the young girl and her family returned to Shannon airport where statements were obtained in the short turnaround before they took off again for the US.
In one charge, the man is charged with the sexual assault of the girl on board the Aer Lingus flight within the jurisdiction of the Irish State, contrary to Section 2 of the Criminal Law (Rape) Amendment Act.
In the second charge, the man is charged with the sexual assault of the girl within the State contrary to Section 2 of the Criminal Law (Rape) Amendment Act.
Det Garda O’Sullivan said that she arrested the accused for purpose of charge before Wednesday’s sitting of Ennis District Court, stating that the accused made "no reply" after caution.
After hearing an outline of the State’s case against the accused, Judge Alec Gabbett declined district court jurisdiction and the case will be transferred to the circuit court where more serious penalties are available.
Sgt John Burke said that the DPP had consented to the case being heard in district court but on a guilty plea only.
Judge Gabbett said that as he has refused jurisdiction a Book of Evidence will now be required in the case for the circuit court.
Asked by Judge Gabbett did he had any application for legal aid to make on behalf of his client, solicitor, John Casey replied "no".
Judge Gabbett imposed reporting restrictions on the identity of the accused and complainant in the case and said he is sure that there is significant disclosure in the case.
The judge remanded the accused on bail to November 27th to Ennis District Court for the serving of the Book of Evidence.
If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, you can call the national 24-hour Rape Crisis Helpline at 1800-77 8888, access text service and webchat options at drcc.ie/services/helpline/ or visit Rape Crisis Help.
