American avoids jail term for three air rage incidents

A Texas businessman who “woke up handcuffed in utter terror” on board a transatlantic flight, with no idea that he was at the centre of an air rage incident, has been spared a jail term.

Judge John O’Neill ordered 40-year-old Houston businessman Stephen Herring to pay €500 to the Clare Crusaders’ Children’s Clinic after Mr Herring pleaded guilty to three air rage charges from Saturday.

Mr Herring pleaded guilty at Ennis District Court yesterday to engaging in behaviour likely to cause serious offence or annoyance to any person on board the aircraft; engaging in behaviour of a threatening, abusive, or insulting nature with intent to cause a breach of the peace; and being intoxicated on board the Shannon-bound United Airlines flight, contrary to the Air Navigation and Transport Act.

Judge O’Neill described Mr Herring’s behaviour on board the Newark-Shannon flight on Saturday as “obnoxious”, but said he would strike out the charges after the receipt of €500, which was later paid into court.

Insp Tom Kennedy said Mr Herring had to be restrained by airline staff and handcuffed after becoming aggressive to cabin crew and passengers.

The court heard Mr Herring mixed alcohol with an Ambien sleeping tablet.

Mr Herring’s solicitor, Aoife Corridan, said he “completely blacked out” and remembered nothing after taking the tablet with alcohol already in his system as the plane left Newark.

The mixing of Ambien and alcohol by REM guitarist Peter Buck formed a part of his successful defence against a more serious air rage charge in 2001.

Insp Kennedy said the offence by Mr Herring — who is on a week-long holiday in Ireland — was at the lower end of the scale.

Judge O’Neill described Mr Herring’s behaviour on the flight as “wrong and obnoxious”. “The fact that he was a nervous flyer and took tablets doesn’t excuse his behaviour. I wouldn’t have enjoyed being a passenger on that flight.”

Mr Herring declined to comment after court.