Co Tyrone man who was drunk and vaped on a plane escapes prison sentence

Kieran Donnelly (44), of Burnvale Crescent, Cookstown, committed offences on September 5 last year.

He pleaded guilty to smoking onboard and being drunk on a plane and being disorderly at Belfast International Airport. He also admitted behaving in a 'threatening, abusive, insulting or disorderly manner' towards cabin crew and assault.

He was at Antrim Magistrates' Court, sitting in Ballymena on Tuesday.

A prosecutor said that at 6.10pm on September 5 police were called to an easyJet flight which was due to take off.

The defendant was being "disruptive" and upon entering the plane police noted the defendant was at the front swearing loudly at staff. His fists were clenched and he was "offering violence to staff members". He was then "forcefully removed" by police.

Earlier there was a report the defendant had been vaping on the plane and he had refused to leave.

The prosecutor said the defendant put the captain of the plane in fear of assault "by using threatening and verbal behaviour". The court was told the captain had left the cockpit.

The prosecutor said the defendant was "extremely intoxicated". A defence barrister said the flight was bound for England. He said the defendant had a clear record.

The lawyer said the defendant was appalled by his behaviour and in a pre-sentence report the defendant "refers to himself as a lowlife". The barrister added: "I cant emphasis how remorseful he is. It is totally out of character".

He said alcohol has been an issue for the defendant and the incident happened after he had been sober for three years.

The lawyer said it was a "blip" and the defendant had "taken copious amount of alcohol in the airport" and had very little memory of what happened. District Judge Nigel Broderick said normally he would not hesitate to send people to prison for such incidents of assault "especially on members of the crew, in this case the captain".

The judge said the captain said in a statement that planes are confined spaces where safety and order are paramount. Judge Broderick said he "couldn't agree more".

He said the incident would have been concerning for passengers who are expecting their flight to leave on time.

He said the defendant had entered a guilty plea and had a clear record and had expressed remorse and "not without hesitation" he was not jailing him but handing down an Enhanced Combination Order of 18 months Probation and 100 hours of Community Service. The defendant was also fined £1,200 total.