Charges dropped against actor Rhys Meyers
Rhys Meyers, 30, was arrested at the airport on November 18 for public drunkenness and a breach of the peace as he waited to board a flight to England following his appearance on RTÉ’s Tubridy Tonight show the previous night.
Lawyers for the DPP informed Dublin District Court yesterday that two charges against the actor were being dropped as the matter was being dealt with under the adult caution scheme.
The actor, whose real name is Jonathan O’Keeffe, with an address at Arlington Road in London, was facing a charge of being intoxicated in a public place under the Criminal Justice Act 1994, as well as a separate charge for engaging in threatening or abusive behaviour.
The troubled star of the hit TV series The Tudors could have faced a maximum fine of €127 for the first offence and a possible jail term of three months for the second charge, if convicted.
However, Rhys Meyers would not have faced any restriction on travelling to the US had he been successfully prosecuted as applicants are only refused visas if sentenced to periods of six months or more for such offences.
The Cork actor, who is still mourning the loss of his mother Geraldine, who died two days after his arrest, was not present in court for the hearing.
Garda Noel Barry gave evidence of arresting the accused whom he reported had made no reply when charged. Rhys Meyers was subsequently granted bail of €400.
The actor’s lawyer, Michael Staines, told Judge Angela Ní Chondúin that his client absolutely accepted that his behaviour on November 18 was “unacceptable and out of character”.
Mr Staines said Rhys Meyers unreservedly apologised to the court and in particular to BMI staff, airport security and gardaí at Dublin Airport.
The lawyer also indicated that the actor would make a voluntary financial contribution to a charity, although he declined to reveal the size of the donation or the charity’s name.
Judge Ní Chondúin remarked: “That is the end of the matter.”
The relatively unknown adult caution scheme was introduced in February 2006 as an alternative to prosecuting adults for certain minor criminal offences, including damage to property and public order offences.
It is normally used in cases where a Garda superintendent believes it is not in the public interest to prosecute but rather, to issue a caution.
