Man who assaulted garda on plane allowed out of prison

Niamh O’Donoghue

A man who assaulted a garda on a plane with 109 passengers on board because he was not taking his schizophrenia medication has been allowed out of prison.

Gavin Risden (48) of no fixed abode in the United Kingdom, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assaulting Garda Conor Neill at Dublin Airport on June 3rd, 2025.

Sergeant Darren Blackwell told the court that air traffic control contacted gardaí, saying there was a “very unruly passenger” on board a transatlantic flight from Newark.

Sgt Blackwell told Brian Storan BL, prosecuting, that the man was aggressive and “wielding a bible”.

When gardaí asked Risden to step off the plane, he shouted at them that he was royalty and had royal blood while waving the bible at them. He told them if they tried to put handcuffs on him they would “see what fucking happens”.

The court was told he punched the garda eight times pushing him back onto a seat. The garda was dazed from the assault and suffered bruising to his face.

Another garda then pepper-sprayed him which the court heard was “a suboptimal approach” since it occurred in the body of the plane. Some passengers were also pepper-sprayed and had to be helped but the court heard the effects wear off in 45 minutes.

There were 109 passengers and nine cabin crew on board. Risden got free and ran up the plane and out the front exit. He was pepper-sprayed by a garda in the bridge but he escaped and ran into Terminal 2 and into a bathroom, where he was arrested.

He has no previous convictions and the court was told he has been in custody since June 3rd.

Footage of the incident was widely shared on social media but did not form part of the book of evidence as the case did not go to trial.

Emmet Nolan BL, defending, told the court his client had an established mental health problem but was not taking his medication and decided to go on holiday to Mexico.

Judge Martina Baxter said she was releasing Risden home as he had demonstrated remorse and contrition.

She noted he was now on enhanced status in Cloverhill Prison and had been “in custody long enough.” She handed down a sentence of nine months’ imprisonment with the balance to be suspended from Thursday.

Judge Baxter commended the gardaí for their compassion.