Derry air rage accused set for trial in March

At Antrim Magistrates Court, District Judge Nigel Broderick this week listed the contest for Sarah McGuire for March 8, with some of the witnesses potentially set to give evidence by videolink from outside NI.

McGuire (39), from Tyrconnell Street in Derry, faces two counts of common assault, behaving in a threatening, abusive or insulting manner towards a member of aircraft crew, being drunk in a plane and refusing to obey the lawful command of an aircraft commander on October 18 last year.

McGuire has previously admitted using disorderly behaviour at Belfast International Airport on the same date.

The facts have yet to be opened in the case, but it is understood the charges arise following an alleged incident on a Belfast to Edinburgh flight which led to a woman being escorted off.

In a video of the alleged incident, a woman allegedly assaults two men and launches into an anti-mask tirade.

During a brief review of the case in Tuesday, District Judge Broderick enquired whether the footage of the alleged incident might be a “silver bullet” to the defence case or might lead to a change of plea.

However defence counsel Eoghan Devlin confirmed that McGuire had seen the footage and maintained her denials.

District Judge Broderick said he would review the case again on February 23 and listed the trial for March 8.