Man in court accused of sexually assaulting young girl on Aer Lingus transatlantic flight

The captain of an Aer Lingus Boston-bound flight turned the aircraft around over the Atlantic Ocean after being informed of allegations that a male passenger had inappropriately touched a teenage girl sitting beside him on the flight, a court has heard.

A 57-year old County Galway man appeared before Ennis District Court in County Clare this Wednesday after he was charged with two counts of sexually assaulting the then 16-year-old girl on board the E1 135 Shannon to Boston flight on November 15, 2023.

Detective Garda Ruth O’Sullivan told the court that the cost to Aer Lingus of returning the Boston bound aircraft to Shannon Airport was €28,213.

Giving an outline of the alleged sexual assaults, Detective Garda O’Sullivan said the flight had departed Shannon at around 2.30pm and that an hour into the transatlantic flight, a young girl informed cabin crew that a male passenger sitting beside her had touched her inappropriately.

“They then informed the captain who took a decision to turn the flight back to Shannon for the safety of all on board,” she said, adding 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.

In one charge, the man is accused of sexually assaulting the girl by way of kissing her arm and rubbing up and down her thigh with his hand on board the Aer Lingus flight within the jurisdiction of the Irish State, contrary to Section 2 of the Criminal Law (Rape) Amendment Act.

The man is also charged with the sexual assault of the girl by rubbing and grabbing her buttocks on the flight within the State contrary to Section 2 of the Criminal Law (Rape) Amendment Act.

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Detective Garda O’Sullivan said that she arrested the accused for the purpose of charge shortly before this Wednesday’s sitting of Ennis District Court.

The accused, she told the court, made 'no reply' after caution.

After hearing an outline of the State’s case against the accused, Judge Alec Gabbett declined district court jurisdiction meaning the case will now be transferred to the circuit court where more serious penalties apply.

Sergeant John Burke said the Director of Public Prosecutions had consented to the case being heard in the district court but on a guilty plea only.

Judge Gabbett said that as he has refused jurisdiction a Book of Evidence will now be required in the case before it can be forwarded to the circuit court.

Asked by the judge if there was an application for legal aid, solicitor John Casey replied ’no’.

Judge Gabbett imposed reporting restrictions meaning neither the accused or the complainant in the case can be identified.

The accused was remanded on bail to appear again on November 27 when it's expected the Book of Evidence will be available.