Patrick Noone, 58, pled guilty to two counts of sexual assault against a 16-year-old girl on board a transatlantic flight.
An Aer Lingus flight bound for Boston was forced to turn around over the Atlantic after a man sexually assaulted a teenage girl. Patrick Noone, 58, today pled guilty to two counts of sexual assault following the incident on November 15, 2023.
Noone, a farmer from County Galway, was sat beside the girl on flight E1 135 to Logan International Airport in Boston, Massachusetts when he inappropriately touched the then 16-year-old.
After being alerted to the incident, cabin crew informed the captain of the flight that a male passenger had allegedly inappropriately touched a teenage girl sitting beside him. The captain then swiftly turned the plane around – costing Aer Lingus almost €30,000 – and returned to Shannon Airport, reports the Irish Mirror.
At Ennis Circuit Court on Tuesday, February 3, Noone pleaded guilty to sexual assault of the girl by rubbing and grabbing her buttocks on board the flight within the jurisdiction of the Irish State.
Noone also pleaded guilty to the sexual assault of the girl by kissing her arm and rubbing her thigh on the flight.
Det Garda Ruth O’Sullivan told the court previously that the costs to Aer Lingus of returning the aircraft to Shannon was €28,213.
Counsel for Mr Noone, Antoinette Simon BL told the court that her client is a self-employed farmer and has no previous convictions.
Ms Simon (instructed by solicitor, Kieran O’Brien) asked for a Probation Report on her client for the sentencing hearing as it may provide insight into his offending.
Judge Francis Comerford granted the request and also directed that Gardai seek a victim impact statement from the complainant in the case.
Noone had not been named before in connection with the sexual assault. Judge Comerford said that he didn’t see any basis for reporting restrictions on the accused.
Counsel for the State, Sarah Jane Comerford BL (instructed by State Solicitor for Clare, Aisling Casey) told Judge Comerford that there is no connection between Noone and the injured party.
Ms Comerford said that a guilty plea had been offered by Noone’s side more than two weeks ago which was of some assistance as arrangements had been made for the US-based witnesses to provide their evidence via video link.
In December, Judge Comerford granted permission for four witnesses in the US to give evidence via video link. One of the four due to give evidence via video link was the complainant in the case.
The complainant – now aged 18 – is currently studying in a US college.
When the case was before the district court, Judge Alec Gabbett transferred the case to the circuit court where more serious penalties apply on conviction after hearing an outline of the case against the man.
Giving an outline of the alleged sexual assaults, Det Garda O’Sullivan said that an hour into the transatlantic flight at around 3.30pm, a young girl informed cabin crew that a male passenger sitting beside her had touched her inappropriately.
Det Garda O’Sullivan said: “They then informed the captain who took a decision to turn the flight back to Shannon.”
She said that the young girl and her family returned to Shannon airport where statements were obtained in the short turnaround before they took off again for the US.