Pensioner (67) barred from Dublin Airport after allegedly hindering officials

Tom Tuite

A 67-year-old man has been barred from Dublin Airport unless he can show he has travel documents after being accused of hindering officials at Terminal 2.

Aleksandras Michalcenko, with an address at Main Street, Ratoath, Co Meath, was arrested on Tuesday morning and brought before Judge Patricia Cronin at Dublin District Court.

Garda Kyle Morrissey said Mr Michalcenko "made no reply" when charged.

The garda did not object to bail but sought conditions which the judge agreed to impose.

She warned the accused, who listened to the proceedings with the aid of a Russian translator, to stay away from the airport unless he was carrying travel documents, a boarding card or a passport.

The garda had asked for a condition that the accused refrain from contacting civilian witnesses, adding that there were two main witnesses.

However, Judge Cronin held that it was unnecessary to add that to the bail bond because it was accepted that Mr Michalcenko would not be able to identify them.

However, she ordered the accused to sign on three days a week at a Garda station and accepted jurisdiction for the case to stay in the District Court, rather than sending it to the Circuit Court, which has wider sentencing powers.

He is charged with impeding three named authorised officers in the exercise of their powers, or failing to comply with their requirements, at Departure Road, Terminal 2, contrary to section 48 of the State Airports Act.

Defence counsel Paddy Flynn furnished the court with a statement of his client's means, and consequently, legal aid was granted.

The judge also ordered disclosure of prosecution evidence to the defence and told Mr Michalcenko to appear again next month when he will be expected to enter a plea, or have a later hearing date set if he contests the case.