25-year-old Ryanair 'air rage' passenger to spend further seven days in custody

At Ennis District Court on Wednesday, solicitor for Ioan Remi Makula, Daragh Hassett said that the intention “is to plead this matter out as quickly as possible” and asked that the case be adjourned for one week.

Mr Hassett said that Mr Makula is not available to appear in court via video link from the prison as he is currently in isolation in his cell in compliance with prison Covid-19 rules.

Mr Hassett said that Judge Mary Larkin has ordered a psychiatric report on Mr Makula of 52 Fearann Ri, Doughiska, Galway.

Mr Hassett said: “That report isn’t ready as yet and I would hope that it would be available for next week. If it isn’t available, I will take instructions.”

Mr Hassett asked Sgt Aiden Lonergan if any further charges were coming and Sgt Lonergan replied ‘no’.

At a special sitting of Ennis District Court on Saturday evening, Judge Larkin remanded Mr Makula in custody to Limerick prison to Feb 9th.

In the case, Mr Makula is charged with being a person on board a Ryanair flight no FR4776 from Manchester to Shannon on February 4th and engaging in behaviour of a threatening, abusive or insulting nature whether by word or gesture with intent to cause of breach of the peace of being reckless as to whether a breach of the peace might have been occasioned.

The charge is contrary to Section 2(a) of the Air Navigation and Transport Act.

In evidence, Garda Chris Healy of Shannon Garda Station told the court on Saturday that in response to caution and charge, Mr Makula made no reply.

When Mr Makula was arrested at Shannon airport on Friday night he was travelling on a Romanian passport.

The court was told last Saturday that Mr Makula had previously surrendered an Irish passport.

Judge Larkin remanded Mr Makula in custody to appear at Ennis District Court on Wednesday, February 16th via video-link from prison.