Suspended sentence for Belfast air rage man
05.05.09
A man who claimed to be a loyalist UVF paramilitary during a drunken air-rage incident on a Ryanair flight from Stansted to Belfast City Airport has received a suspended jail sentence.
William George Moffitt, 46, of Camworth Cres, Kilfennan, Londonderry, ignored cabin crew requests to calm down and also declared himself to be in the Royal Ulster Constabulary. He was arrested when the plane landed at Belfast City Airport in February, and pleaded guilty to behaving in a threatening manner on an aircraft.
A prosecution lawyer told Belfast Magistrates Court that his behaviour forced the captain of a flight from Stansted to radio through for police help. He made comments about being in the RUC and the UVF. Crew members tried to get him to be quiet during the episode.
When he was later interviewed an apologetic Mr Moffitt said he had been drinking heavily from 08:00 that day and could not remember anything about the flight. He was described as a binge drinker who has been attempting to curb his sessions.
District Judge Fiona Bagnall said: ‘Given the nature of the offence and the context in which it has occurred undoubtedly that takes this behaviour into something which passes the custody threshold.’ However, she acknowledged that Mr Moffitt admitted his guilt at the earliest opportunity, and had no record of similar behaviour. She imposed a three months prison sentence, suspended for 18 months.
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