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ONE OF THREE men taken off a Ryanair flight on Saturday has said the move was an over-reaction by the airline.
Niall Harrington from Cork spoke to Neil Prendeville on the city’s Red FM this morning and said reports that his group had caused havoc were “fake news”.
Niall and his friends were on their way to Ibiza for a stag party when they became involved in what the airline claimed was a disturbance, which led to the flight being diverted to Paris Beauvais Airport. Three passengers were removed and detained by French police on arrival at Paris Beauvais.
Speaking to Prendeville this morning, Harrington said a friend of his had opened a naggin of vodka on the flight but put it away when asked.
Later on he opened it again and before we knew it, we were told we were being diverted.
He said that reports of an “unruly, drink-fuelled disturbance” were “fake news”.
There was nothing like that, it was just good fun – people going on a stag, people going on holiday – everyone was in good form. We’ve met people over here who were on the flight who couldn’t believe it – it was a total over-reaction.
“Everyone was in total shock.”
Harrington says that he has since received an email telling him that he is prohibited from flying Ryanair in future. This came after armed police had taken the trio from the plane in Paris.
He said he and his friends had two drinks in the airport, but said any idea that the three were a security risk was wrong.
From there, they were questioned before being released without charge. They made their way to Charles de Gaulle Airport where they flew to Palma in Majorca. From there, they flew to Ibiza and will fly back to Ireland via Belfast.
A Ryanair spokesperson yesterday said that the diversion had been necessary.
“The aircraft landed normally and the passengers were removed and detained by police upon arrival, before the aircraft continued to Ibiza.
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.
Ryanair has responded by calling for significant changes to limit the sale of alcohol at airports, such as a two-drink limit per passenger and no alcohol sales before 10am.
The airline said:
“It is incumbent on the airports to introduce these preventative measures to curb excessive drinking and the problems it creates, rather than allowing passengers to drink to excess before their flights.”
An email to the show from Niall’s wife Grace said the family is due to fly with Ryanair on a family holiday next month.
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Sooner AI takes these jobs the better
@Jon John: so what you’re saying is you really don’t understand AI.
@Jon John: do you ever shut up?
Rte out for the day so then. The problem with ai is the companies who own it. They are evil. I personally have 0 sympathy for any actors or script writers, they all engage in the woke communism destroying our countries. Its karma and shows exactly what’s going to happen to all the people who support the communism. They will be disposed of in the end. The who thing is designed to destroy western culture and civilization.
@James murphy: What is “woke communism”?
@James murphy: woke communism? Pull your head in there lad.
@lWOk0fWf: my head in where exactly now?
@James murphy: You’re some t°°l
@The Irish love this shy….: I’m some t star star l, what’s that now?
Please hope most of them from Fair city
Irish actors union…who? The cast of Fair City and Killinascully. Please, stop Irish people, stop. Yes we know you’re desperately insecure and need approval but stop, please, cringe
You shout about capitalism destroying society, when the union members stand up you call them destructive.
When the government withdraws vital services and union members stand up you call them trouble makers.
When the cost of living cripples low income families and union members stand up you call them greedy.
Trade union members across every sector in society are putting themselves in the firing line every day to protect, enhance and improve everyone’s conditions.
Instead of cheap shots that only serve capitalists agenda, try supporting or even better Join a Union.
@Alan H: which vital services has the government withdrawn?
@donal O’brien: St James Hospital mental health services, patient step-down unit is to shut. Mental health beds have been withdrawn over the past decade by successive governments. This is just one example.
@donal O’brien: Not withdrawn, just decimated, nearly all of them.
I actually had another thought too, I’m not religious myself but I study everything and I did study revelations from saint john. An awful lot of it is coming to fruition. Take the fire from the sky, that’s happening, the mark of the beast, already in Sweden, no purchases without the mark of the beast and there are two beasts and their horns represent the mechanisms which our government are going to put in place. How things have gone from one extreme to the other in this country.
@James murphy: Oh dear. Go for a walk FFS.
@James murphy: you’re hilarious
@lWOk0fWf: thank you, I do appreciate your compliment.
It’s a tragedy. And yet… a comedy. Sure… isn’t that what it’s all about?
All woke muppets.
@Neil O.: Ironically that is a woke comment.
Wonder what took them so long rally their support? Boyd Barrett et al must have been asleep at the wheel to miss this particular bandwagon?
i think the actors strike should be written into the storyline on Fair City.
That will turn the tide.
In fact, the Tubridy sage should also be included. That’ll give it a sense of realism as soap life representing realisms. We could include a reference to all the thousands of letter Tubridy said he received showing support and loyalty to him.
I’m off now to buy a Renault. If its good enough for Marty Morrisey, its good enough for me.
‘Standing in solidarity’ is no different to ’1 like 1 prayer’, it is the pinnacle of time-wasting. There’s a vicarious embarrassment that pays visit when seeing adults align in what is shared fiction.
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