Aer Lingus airplane compelled to show round after teen sexually assaulted by passenger
A farmer has pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a then 16-year-old girl on board a transatlantic Aer Lingus flight bound for Boston
The plane was forced to turn around
A major airline flight was forced to return after a teenager was sexually assaulted on board. A farmer has admitted to the sexual assault of a 16-year-old girl on a transatlantic Aer Lingus flight heading for Boston.
Patrick Noone, 58, pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault at Ennis Circuit Court on Tuesday, according to the Irish Mirror.
The captain of the Aer Lingus flight was informed by cabin crew that a male passenger had allegedly touched a teenage girl inappropriately. As a result, the Boston-bound plane was turned around and returned to Shannon airport.
Mr Noone, from Curragh, Kilconnell, Ballinasloe, Co Galway, admitted to sexually assaulting the girl by touching and grabbing her buttocks on the E1 135 Aer Lingus flight within the jurisdiction of the Irish State.
Mr Noone also admitted to kissing the girl’s arm and rubbing her thigh on the flight. His counsel, Antoinette Simon BL, told the court that her client is a self-employed farmer with no previous convictions
Ms Simon requested a Probation Report on her client for the sentencing hearing, as it may provide insight into his offending.
Judge Francis Comerford approved the request and also ordered that Gardai obtain a victim impact statement from the complainant in the case.
Mr Noone has not been previously identified in relation to the sexual assault and Judge Comerford stated that he saw no grounds for reporting restrictions on the accused.
Counsel for the State, Sarah Jane Comerford BL (instructed by State Solicitor for Clare, Aisling Casey) informed Judge Comerford that there is no connection between Mr Noone and the injured party.
Ms Comerford revealed that Mr Noone’s side had offered the guilty plea more than two weeks earlier.
Ms Comerford explained that this was somewhat helpful as arrangements had been put in place for the US based witnesses to provide their evidence via video-link for the trial.
In December, Judge Comerford authorised permission for four State witnesses to give evidence via video link from the US in the trial.
Ms Comerford informed the court in December that one of the four to give evidence via video-link is the complainant in the case.
Ms Comerford stated that the complainant – now aged 18 and 16 at the time of the alleged offence – is currently studying in a US college.
Ms Comerford explained that the complainant’s grandmother was a witness in the Book of Evidence and as she is an elderly lady and a resident of the US, as are two other females who were on the flight. When the matter appeared before the district court, Judge Alec Gabbett moved the case to the circuit court where more severe penalties can be imposed upon conviction after hearing details of the allegations against the defendant.
Det Garda Ruth O’Sullivan previously informed the court that the expenses incurred by Aer Lingus for diverting the Boston-bound aircraft back to Shannon totalled €28,213.
Outlining the sexual assaults, Det Garda O’Sullivan stated that approximately one hour into the transatlantic flight at around 3.30pm, a young girl alerted cabin crew that a male passenger seated next to her had touched her inappropriately.
Det Garda O’Sullivan explained: “They then informed the captain who took a decision to turn the flight back to Shannon.”
She revealed that the young girl and her family were brought back to Shannon airport where statements were taken during the brief stopover before they departed once more for the US.
