Funeral party 'caused nuisance with singing and dancing' on Ryanair flight home

Michael McDonagh was given a 12-month community order after admitting endangering a flight, though he denies being drunk

A man has spared jail after a funeral party he was travelling in caused chaos (Reuters)

A 28-year-old has been spared jail after a funeral party he was travelling with ‘caused a nuisance’ with loud singing and dancing on a flight home.

Michael McDonagh, from Edmonton in north London, was a passenger on a Ryanair flight from Dublin to London when he ran down the aisle injuring the arm of a female passenger.

He was joined with nine others, who were all returning from a funeral and were said to be in “high spirits” before the flight.

Though he had been drinking he was not drunk, Highbury Magistrates’ Court heard yesterday.

“McDonagh’s party were singing, drinking, getting up and walking around and causing a nuisance,” Prosecutor Penny Ferguson said.

He admitted endangering the flight and was given a 12-month community order with the condition that he attend an alcohol treatment course.

The court heard that McDonagh had been shouting to his group after going to the toilet on the aircraft, before sprinting down the aisle and hitting a woman who was undergoing physiotherapy.

His counsel, Kalsoom Shah, said that he was not the aggressive type and had not intended to cause danger or fear. He was also ordered to pay £100 compensation.

As reported by the Herts and Essex Observer, another member of the party and relative of Michael, Patrick McDonagh, had to pay £178 in costs after urinating on the floor of the plane’s toilet. He admitted being drunk on the flight.