By Gordon Deegan

A Co. Galway farmer has pleaded guilty to the sexual assault of a then 16-year-old girl on board a transatlantic Aer Lingus flight bound for Boston.

At Ennis Circuit Court today (Tuesday, February 3), Patrick Noone (58) pleaded guilty on two counts of sexual assault contrary to Section 2 of the Criminal Law (Rape) Amendment Act on November 15, 2023.

As a result of cabin crew informing the captain of the Aer Lingus flight that a male passenger had allegedly inappropriately touched a teenage girl sitting beside him on the flight, the captain turned the Boston-bound plane around and journeyed back to Shannon airport.

In the case, Noone, of Curragh, Kilconnell, Ballinasloe, Co. Galway, pleaded guilty to sexual assault of the girl by rubbing and grabbing her buttocks on board the Aer Lingus 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.

Counsel for Noone, barrister Antoinette Simon told the court today that her client is a self employed farmer and has no previous convictions.

Instructed by solicitor, Kieran O’Brien, she 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 gardaí seek a victim impact statement from the complainant in the case.

Noone had not been named before now in connection with the sexual assault and Judge Comerford said that he didn’t see any basis for reporting restrictions on the accused.

Counsel for the State, barrister Sarah Jane Comerford (instructed by state solicitor for Clare, Aisling Casey) told Judge Comerford that there is no connection between Noone and the injured party.

She added that Noone’s side more than two weeks ago offered the guilty plea.

The barrister added that this was of some assistance as arrangements had been made for the US-based witnesses to provide their evidence via video-link for the trial.

Court

In December, Judge Comerford granted permission for four State witnesses to give evidence via video link from the US in the trial.

Barrister Sarah Jane Comerford told the court in December that one of the four to give evidence via video-link is the complainant in the case.

She explained that the complainant - now aged 18, and 16 at the time of the alleged offence - is currently studying at a US college.

The barrister said that the complainant’s grandmother was a witness in the Book of Evidence, an elderly lady and a resident of the US, as are two other females who were on the flight.

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.

Det. Garda Ruth O’Sullivan told the court previously that the cost to Aer Lingus of returning the Boston-bound aircraft to Shannon is €28,213.

Giving an outline of the alleged sexual assaults, Det. Garda O’Sullivan said that an hour into the transatlantic flight at around 3:30p.m, 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.