Galway Bay FM Newsroom - A Ballinasloe man, on his way to take up a job at an American Football Academy in the US, could face up to 20 years in prison for alleged "unruly behaviour" on a plane, including exposing himself to cabin crew in a row over the food.
Sky News are reporting that Shane McInerney, who is 29, is said to have caused "numerous disturbances" on the Delta Airlines flight from Dublin to John F Kennedy (JFK) International Airport in New York.
Reports suggest he was flying to the US to take a job teaching football at an academy in Daytona, Florida.
The incident is alleged to have taken place on the 7th of January and McInerney appeared before a judge in New York a week later and was charged with "intentionally assaulting and intimidating a member of a flight crew", according to a criminal complaint unsealed on Friday.
It said the suspect repeatedly refused to wear a mask, threw a beverage can and hit a passenger in the head, and "pulled down his pants and underwear and mooned a flight attendant and passengers.
A court spokesman said that if convicted of this felony charge, McInerney could be sentenced to 20 years in prison.
He was released on $20,000 bail as he awaits trial.
