A Clare man was given a suspended jail sentence today after pleading guilty to an air-rage offence on a flight to Ireland from the US.
Matthew Chambers, 47, originally from Ennis, Co Clare, but now with an address in the Bronx, New York, was said to have been drunk and to have acted abusively and threateningly towards staff on an Aer Lingus jet en route from New York.
He was arrested after the flight landed at Shannon, Co Clare, last month.
He told Ennis District Court today that he wished to make a full apology to Aer Lingus employees and gardaí for his behaviour.
Judge Joseph Mangan imposed a two week suspended sentence and fined Chambers &8364; 761. No limit was given for the duration of the suspended sentence.
He also ordered that details of the offence and the penalties should be forwarded to the International Civil Aviation Authority in Montreal, Canada.