Dad-of-two dragged off Ryanair flight at Manchester Airport for drunkenly heckling cabin crew after his friends ‘fed him’ birthday drinks in departure lounge
A BOOZED-UP Brit due to fly to Ibiza for his birthday was kicked off the plane before it took off after he heckled cabin crew during a safety demonstration.
Dad-of-two Martin Carroll, 26, was meant to be heading out to the Spanish island with friends and had been drinking heavily in the departure lounge.
Once he was on the Ryanair plane Carroll was repeatedly warned to shut up as he shouted at cabin crew.
He had also been drinking from a stash of duty free alcohol he bought on the plane, a court heard.
The self employed plasterer from Bolton, continued with his loutish behaviour and police were called onto the jet at Manchester Airport.
As he was escorted off the aircraft he was heard slurring: “So I’ve had a few beers, so f****** what, what a f****** load of s**t, what a joke”.
The flight was delayed for several hours because of his behaviour on September 9, Manchester Magistrates Court heard.
Carroll admitted being drunk in an aircraft and was fined £500 plus £135 in additional costs in court today.
Prosecutor Tina Cunnane said: “This occurred at 8:26pm on September 9 2016.
“Officers based at the airport were called to attend the Ibiza bound Ryanair flight.
“Crew reported a male drinking his own duty free alcohol on board and disturbing during the safety demonstration.
“This was unacceptable to the crew because other passengers needed to be aware of actions and responsibilities of the aircraft encountered a problem.
He added: “The flight was delayed considerably whilst dealing with the situation.
“Several warnings to control himself were given but he continued with his poor behaviour. Crew pointed out the defendant and the police officer says he spoke to the captain initially.
“A decision had been made by crew to offload the defendant because he failed to control himself after being asked to keep quite on a number of occasions.
“A set of steps were attached to the aircraft and the defendant was heard saying ‘what a f**king joke’ his speech was slurred and it was immediately apparent that he was drunk. His eyes were glazed.
“He continued to make profane comments. The officer led him to his van and he continued to make drunken comments about the crew and others aboard. The defendant was uncooperative about giving his passport and he told the officer that they were on board with his friends. His friends were all dismissive about their friends’ behaviour.
“He did have his passport with him which was found in his bag. He was arrested for being drunk whilst on board an aircraft.
“He said ‘so I’ve had a few beers, so f**king what, what a f**king load of shit, what a joke’.”
A Ryanair spokesperson said: “The crew of this flight from Manchester to Ibiza requested airport police assistance after a passenger became disruptive during the in-flight safety demonstration.
“Police removed this individual before the flight departed.
“We will not tolerate unruly or disruptive behaviour at any time and the safety and comfort of our customers, crew and aircraft is our number one priority.”
Carroll has previous convictions on his record including a criminal damage matter in 2014 and battery in 2011.
In mitigation defence counsel Damian Mullarkey said: “The plane was not in flight, it hadn’t even been taxied.
“This was a drunken individual who was heckling as the cabin crew were trying to do the safety demonstration.
“Mr Carroll was going to Ibiza with friends to celebrate his birthday.
“It was a pre-planned flight because it was his birthday.
“He was being bought large amounts of alcohol.
“He was being fed it by his friends.
“To suggest he was drinking from his duty free is wrong.
“He was drinking from his friends.
“He became, out of the group, highly intoxicated.
“He was acting childish and not appropriate in any manner of how he should have been on a flight.”
Mr Mullarkey added: “That behaviour was not appropriate whilst on an aircraft. It could have been worse, the plane could have been in flight but if was not it was not even in movement. It’s a very unfortunate situation.
”I cannot excuse his behaviour and I won’t. I can’t make excuses for him. He has not asked me to do so. He was drunk and it was because he was celebrating his birthday and had been fed a lot of alcohol.
“He had to fly out the next day where his behaviour was controlled and he then joined up with his friends, which was more expense.
“He’s learnt a salient lesson.
“He’s working hard with a family and let off a lot of steam and as a result he’s found himself in court today.
“He inconvenienced his friends, other passengers on board and the cabin crew.”
When asked if he had anything to say, Carroll answered “no thank you”.
Chairing the panel of magistrates at Manchester, Helen Hawley said: “We have taken into account your guilty plea and salary.
“You will be fined £500 with a victim surcharge of £50 and prosecution costs of £85.
“We will accept that you pay that at £250 a month.
“This was an expensive lesson for you.
“You’re friends were feeding you the alcohol but you didn’t have to drink it.”