Prendeville faces Garda quiz after airline staff give statements
It is understood Aer Lingus cabin crew witnesses made statements of complaint to gardaí in relation to the incident on the flight between London and Cork on October 19.
Aer Lingus confirmed it had completed its investigation and, following that, it is understood the two female crew members went to Togher Garda Station in Cork where they made their statements. The airline said it had referred the matter to gardaí and, because it is the subject of a Garda investigation, it would be inappropriate to comment.
It is believed the investigation will take several weeks, at which stage gardaí will send a file to the DPP.
The developments came just hours after Mr Prendeville, 49, issued an emotional apology on Cork’s 96FM, blaming a combination of painkillers and alcohol for not remembering the flight.
As revealed exclusively in yesterday’s Irish Examiner, he was seen masturbating as the aircraft taxied for takeoff before members of the cabin crew intervened.
The Rape Crisis Network Ireland director Fiona Neary welcomed the investigation and said indecent exposure imposed on bystanders can be humiliating and intimidating. “It is important that the harmful effects are fully recognised and appreciated,” she said. “Describing such behaviours as an ‘embarrassing incident’ serves to minimise the harm inflicted and give a green light to those with sexually harmful behaviours. Every woman has the right to go about her work environment and her daily life without having unwanted sexual behaviour put upon her.”
Celebrity PR guru Max Clifford described Mr Prendeville’s explanation and the apology offered as “totally bizarre”.
“Obviously for Neil it is incredibly damaging and incredibly embarrassing. He is not saying ‘I did anything’, but he wants to apologise to everybody for what is in the Irish Examiner. The whole thing is totally bizarre. Why was he doing what he was doing? What brought it upon (sic)? If every time everybody mixes painkillers with alcohol, it’s just the kind of things they do, which of course isn’t the case. You don’t lose your memory, get it back, lose your memory, you would assume. All in all, it’s a real disaster for him.”
Mr Clifford spoke of the embarrassment both for Mr Prendeville and his employer. “I understand that he takes the moral high ground on most issues on his show. Therefore, you can only assume it is going to be incredibly damaging for him and, in some ways, for the radio station he works for.”
