A man has pleaded guilty to the sexual assault of a then 16-year-old girl on board an Aer Lingus flight bound for Boston.
At Ennis Circuit Court, 58-year-old Patrick Noone, a farmer, pleaded guilty when arraigned on two counts of sexual assault contrary to Section 2 of the Criminal Law (Rape) Amendment Act on 15 November 2023.
As a result of cabin crew informing the captain of the Aer Lingus flight that a male passenger had allegedly inappropriately touched a teenage girl sitting beside him on the flight, the captain turned the Boston bound plane around and journeyed back to Shannon Airport.
In the case, Mr Noone of Curragh, Kilconnell, Ballinasloe, Co Galway pleaded guilty to sexual assault of the girl by rubbing and grabbing her buttocks on board the E1135 Aer Lingus flight within the jurisdiction of the Irish State.
Mr Noone also pleaded guilty to the sexual assault of the girl by kissing her arm and rubbing her thigh on the flight.
Counsel for Mr Noone, Antoinette Simon BL told the court today that her client is a self-employed farmer and has no previous convictions.
Ms Simon, instructed by solicitor, Kieran O'Brien, asked for a probation report on her client for the sentencing hearing as it may provide insight into his offending.
Judge Francis Comerford granted the request and also directed that gardaí seek a victim impact statement from the complainant in the case.
Mr Noone has not been named before now in connection with the sexual assault and Judge Comerford said that he did not see any basis for reporting restrictions on the accused.
Counsel for the State, Sarah Jane Comerford BL, instructed by State Solicitor for Clare, Aisling Casey, told Judge Comerford that there is no connection between Mr Noone and the injured party.
Judge Comerford said that Mr Noone’s side more than two weeks ago offered the guilty plea.
Judge Comerford said that this was of some assistance as arrangements had been made for the US-based witnesses to provide their evidence via video-link for the trial.
In December, Judge Comerford granted permission for four State witnesses to give evidence via video link from the US in the trial.
Judge Comerford told the court in December that one of the four to give evidence via video-link is the complainant in the case.
She said that the complainant - now aged 18, and 16 at the time of the alleged offence - is currently studying in a US college.
Ms Comerford said that the complainant’s grand-mother 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 case was before the district court, Judge Alec Gabbett transferred the case to the circuit court where more serious penalties apply on conviction after hearing an outline of the case against the man.
Detective Garda Ruth O’Sullivan told the court previously that the costs to Aer Lingus of returning the Boston bound aircraft to Shannon was €28,213.
Giving an outline of the alleged sexual assaults, Det Garda O’Sullivan said 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.
Det Garda O’Sullivan said: "They then informed the captain who took a decision to turn the flight back to Shannon."
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.
