Ralph Lauren niece charged in air rage hearing

The niece of fashion designer Ralph Lauren has appeared in court charged with being drunk and abusive on a plane over an alleged air rage incident.

Jenny Lauren is accused of breaching the peace on board a transatlantic Delta Air Lines flight, which had to be diverted to Shannon Airport on Monday.

The New York-based jewellery designer was arrested on Monday and had been held in Shannon Garda Station overnight.

Judge Patrick Durcan said that it would not be appropriate for the case to be dealt with at Killaloe and said that the case should be heard in Ennis today.

He told solicitor for Ms Lauren, Sharon Curley, that before he would impose sentence in Ennis, the nature and extent of how people were discommoded, the cost to the airline, and the cost to the airport arising from the incident would have to be addressed.

“I am talking about the totality of the costs involved. These are the issues that must be addressed before the matter is finalised.

Ms Curley said there would be an application for bail and Judge Durcan asked Ms Lauren confirm that her nationality and that she does not hold dual citizenship.

Ms Lauren gave brief sworn evidence to confirm she was American and didn’t hold any other passport.

Ms Curley proposed that an €800 cash lodgement as part of bail conditions. Judge Durcan said €2,500 would be appropriate.

Insp Tom Kennedy said gardaí would be insisting on signing on conditions and for a specified address for Ms Lauren before today’s court appearance as she is not resident in Ireland.

Ms Curley later lodged the €2,500 into court and said Ms Lauren would be staying at the Shannon Oakwood Arms Hotel and would sign on at Shannon Garda Station between 6pm-9pm last night.

Ms Lauren is charged with engaging in behaviour of a threatening, abusive or insulting nature whether by word or gesture with intent to cause a breach of the peace or being reckless as to whether a breach of the peace might have been occasioned on Jan 6 on board the Delta Airlines flight.

Ms Lauren is also charged with being intoxicated to such an extent as would give rise to a reasonable apprehension that you might endanger yourself or other persons on board on the same date on the same flight.

Ms Lauren is also charged with without justification engaging in behaviour likely to cause serious offence or annoyance to any person on board the aircraft having been requested by a member of the aircraft to cease such behaviour on Jan 6.

All three charges relate to the Air Navigation and Transport Act 1973.