Jonathan Rhys Meyers - Why common sense is the real winner

Actor Jonathan Rhys Meyers escaped a criminal conviction yesterday. He was arrested for public order offences and charged with using threatening and abusive behaviour to airline staff and security people at Dublin Airport on November 18, when he tried to board a flight for London.

He was drunk and he made a fool of himself. Within hours of his actions, he suffered a bereavement when his mother died

He was not the first person, nor will he be the last, to behave foolishly under the influence of alcohol, but he is not likely to forget the episode that easily.

He received enormous unwelcome publicity as a result of his indiscretion.

The Director of Public Prosecutions informed Judge Angela Uí Chondúin that the State was not proceeding with the charges.

No end would have been served by allowing the case to become a media circus, after Mr Rhys Meyers acknowledged that his own behaviour was absolutely unacceptable.

The actor, for his part, apologised unreservedly to the personnel of British Midland BMI, the security staff at the airport and the gardaí. In addition, he offered to make a donation to charity.

The real winners in the whole thing are the charity, compassion and common sense.