Man sank 12 pints of Guinness at funeral and headbutted Ryanair flight attendant
A grieving man sunk 12 pints of Guinness after his gran's funeral before thumping a fellow passenger and headbutting a flight attendant after he was caught smoking in a plane toilet.
Patrick McDonagh has avoided a prison sentence over the on-board commotion on his Ryanair flight from Dublin to Bristol.
The captain called police after the drunk man's attack in January just hours after attending the wake.
The court heard how he had too much to drink after his gran's funeral, BristolLive report.
Things turned ugly when the flight landed and McDonagh was arrested after the plane touched down.
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He drunk up to 12 pints of Guinness at the wake, the court heard (NurPhoto via Getty Images)The 46-year-old pleaded guilty to two charges of assault. He also admitted to smoking on an aircraft and being drunk on an aircraft.
Judge William Hart handed him a six-month prison sentence suspended for 15 months.
He told McDonagh: "You were very much affected by grief. You behaved in a way which was out of character."
McDonagh was handed 120 hours' unpaid work. He was also told to pay each assault victim £150 compensation and pay £350 in prosecution costs.
The man assaulted a passenger and a member of the Ryanair cabin crew as the plane touched down (NurPhoto via Getty Images)Alicia Doble, prosecuting, said the aircraft's seat belt lights were switched on when McDonagh went to a toilet. A few minutes later, he emerged from the toilet and swayed to his seat, the court heard.
A cabin crew member smelled smoke in the toilet, saw a cigarette butt in the pan and alerted the captain, who informed police.
As the aircraft landed, McDonagh stood to put his coat on but was advised to sit down and an argument ensued between him and his partner.
Miss Doble said passengers became involved and McDonagh struck one and headbutted a cabin crew member. He was arrested and taken into police custody.
Problems started when he was caught smoking in the toilet (Getty Images/iStockphoto)McDonagh told police he had downed 10 to 12 pints of Guinness. In an interview, he said he couldn't recall boarding or getting off the aircraft after attending his gran's funeral.
Lana Murphy, defending, said the offences were out of character for her client. She said a reference for him described him as "an honourable and dependable man".
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Miss Murphy said the remorseful father-of-eight had attended his gran's funeral and had a drink for the first time in 12 years, while on medication.
She said he had no recollection of the incident on the aircraft but accepted facts alleged by the prosecution.
Miss Murphy added that the assaults happened when the aircraft was on the tarmac.
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