Air rage man gets suspended term

A man was given a suspended jail sentence today after pleading guilty to an air-rage offence on a flight between the United States and Ireland.

Mathew Chambers, 47, originally from Ennis, Co Clare, but now with an address in the Bronx, New York, was said to have been drunk and to have acted abusively and threateningly towards staff on an Aer Lingus jet en route from New York.

Chambers was arrested after the flight landed at Shannon, Co Clare, last month.

He told the District Court in Ennis of his regret and remorse and said he had apologised to the Aer Lingus employees and to the Irish police.

District Court Judge Joseph Mangan imposed a two week suspended sentence and fined Chambers euro 761. No limit was given for the duration of the suspended sentence.

He also ordered that details of the offence and the penalties should be forwarded to the International Civil Aviation Authority in Montreal, Canada.