A 48-year-old Co Antrim man has been given two suspended sentences of three months, and ordered to pay fines of €1,700 for an air rage offence on board a flight which was forced to land at Shannon last Saturday.
At Tulla District Court today, Michael McCallion of 94 Dunclug Gardens in Ballymena, pleaded guilty to assault, to being drunk, and engaging in abusive and threatening behaviour on board the flight.
McCallion was a passenger on board a flight from Belfast's Aldergrove Airport to Las Palmas in the Canary Islands, when it was forced to make an unscheduled stop at Shannon because of his behaviour.
Unknown to the crew, he had been drinking vodka from a lemonade bottle that he had brought on board.
In a statement, cabin crew supervisor Catherine Gray said McCallion was drunk, abusive and shouting. She said he pushed her in the chest as she attempted to help him to the toilets, and that he also threatened her with his fist.
The flight captain decided to land at Shannon because McCallion was a threat to the crew and to the other 199 passengers on board.
The accused's sisters also gave evidence today. They said he was a kind and gentle man, but that he had a problem with drink.
McCallion suffered a stroke two years ago and was now unable to work and was on disability benefits. He had no recollection of the events, and was ashamed and embarrassed by his behaviour.
He has a series of previous convictions in the North for theft, burglary and drunken driving stretching back to 1966.
Judge Joseph Mangan said McCallion's abusive behaviour warranted a prison sentence but because of his serious medical condition he would impose the suspended sentences and the fines.
He also ordered that the details of the offence and a photograph of McCallion be forwarded to the International Civil Aviation Authority in Montreal, which could affect McCallion's ability to fly in the future.
