CHOC AND AWE | 

Man acted ‘aggressively’ towards cabin crew when they ‘wouldn’t sell him chocolate bar’

Daniel Hamilton (28) had been on holiday in Salou, Spain and had drunk “far too much alcohol” on the journey home when the incident happened, a court heard.

Yesterday at 16:09

A holidaymaker returning to Dublin was taken off the airplane and arrested for acting aggressively towards cabin crew when they “wouldn’t sell him a chocolate bar” during the flight.

Daniel Hamilton (28) had been on holiday in Salou, Spain and had drunk “far too much alcohol” on the journey home when the incident happened, a court heard.

Fining him €500, Judge Treasa Kelly said she was sure his behaviour had been “very worrying” for passengers and crew on the flight.

Hamilton, a father-of-one from Robert Emmet Walk, Bridgefoot Street, Dublin 8 pleaded guilty to behaviour likely to cause offence or annoyance on board an aircraft.

The hospital catering assistant also admitted obstructing gardaí and using threatening, abusive and insulting behaviour at the gate when he left the plane.

Garda Sergeant Niall Murphy told Dublin District Court the accused was on board a flight to Dublin on September 12 when he became aggressive towards cabin crew who told him “they wouldn’t sell him a chocolate bar.”

He verbally abused and tried to push past them, then on arrival at the terminal he was taken off the plane. He struggled with gardaí and had to be arrested.

Hamilton had previous convictions for public order offences and criminal damage.

He had been travelling with his family from Salou where they had been on holiday, defence solicitor Michael French said.

“He consumed far too much alcohol on the day in question,” Mr French said. “He was highly intoxicated and his behaviour was completely unacceptable.”

Hamilton was very remorseful and apologised to gardaí and airline staff who “should not have been subjected” to this behaviour.

He had addressed his alcohol intake subsequent to this event and “realises he shouldn’t be drinking to such an extent.”

Judge Kelly told Hamilton he was “old enough to realise you shouldn’t be drinking too much alcohol.”

“I certainly wouldn’t like to have been on the flight when you were creating trouble with the crew,” the judge said. “It would have been very worrying and I’m sure they were very upset on the flight.”

The charges were under the Air Navigation and Transport and Public Order Acts.