Irishman admits to Cole racial abuse

Two men will be sentenced next month after former Manchester United footballer Andy Cole, 42, was racially abused on a plane.

Cole was on a Dublin to Manchester flight on Sunday when the incident happened.

Police were called to Manchester Airport following reports that two passengers were drunk and would not co-operate with Aer Lingus cabin crew.

Lee Patrick Byrne, 28, from Dublin, and Gregory Horan, 26, of no fixed abode, were both arrested at the airport and yesterday appeared in court.

At Trafford Magistrates’ Court, Byrne pleaded guilty to a racially aggravated public order offence and being drunk on an aircraft, the Crown Prosecution Service confirmed.

Horan also admitted to being drunk on an aircraft.

The defendants were bailed and will appear at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court for sentencing on Jan 20.

Both men could be jailed for the offences with a maximum five-year term for being drunk on an aircraft.

Ex-striker Cole, from Cheshire, is now a club ambassador at Manchester United and is also involved with other black footballers with the Kick It Out campaign, which aims to stamp out abuse from the stands and in the dressing room.

Yesterday he tweeted: “Can I just say thank you for the tweets and the support.”