A woman has stated she was simply carrying out her duties when she was sexually assaulted by a man while working as a cabin crew member on a Ryanair flight.
In a victim impact statement, the woman said she was “sexually assaulted in a tight and confined space” where colleagues were also present, reports Breaking News.
She said her sense of safety and peace has been “completely shattered.”
“I was only doing my job when this happened,” she said, reports Breaking News.
She said she fell in love with flying when she joined Ryanair, but has since resigned.
She said she feels there is a “layer of shame over me” and “still feels disgusting,” reports Breaking News.
“The road to recovery feels long and unreachable,” the woman said, adding that she is taking it one day at a time.
“Life hasn’t been the kindest to me, and what happened is an extra heavy load,” she said, reports Breaking News.
Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard on Thursday that the incident took place while the flight was airborne, approximately 40 minutes before it was due to land in Dublin.
Aaron Brady (31) of Main Street, Killeshandra, Co Cavan pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting the woman on an inbound flight to Dublin Airport, reports Breaking News.
The court was told he has no recollection of the incident and has a problem with alcohol, which he is currently addressing.
Taking the stand, Brady said he consumed around five bottles of wine with his partner at the airport before boarding the flight and potentially between 12 and 15 mini bottles of alcohol during the flight, reports Breaking News.
He said he has not had a drink in a year.
Brady said he was “really, really sorry, sincerely” and described his behaviour as “out of character,” reports Breaking News.
“I can’t believe it, I’m so sorry for the trauma it has caused you. It’s not me at all…I’m really, really sorry.”
Judge Jonathan Dunphy asked him if he had been banned for life from Ryanair flights, with Brady indicating the ban was for five years, reports Breaking News.
“I understand it is for life,” the judge noted.
The court heard the woman also faced financial losses of over €3,000 as a result of the incident, including sick leave, voluntary absences and her resignation, reports Breaking News.
Judge Dunphy queried whether the woman had been left to bear those costs rather than her employer, with the prosecution confirming that she had.
Keith Spencer BL, defending, said the volume of alcohol consumed by Brady before boarding and during the flight “is almost mind-boggling,” reports Breaking News.
He said his client deeply regrets what occurred, had no intention of it happening, and is both ashamed and apologetic.
Counsel asked the court to take into account his client’s early guilty plea, his strong work record at an ice cream factory, and the contents of a probation report, reports Breaking News.
He noted his client had €5,000 available as a gesture of remorse, which the court heard the woman is willing to accept.
Spencer said his client is prepared to reimburse the woman’s expenses and could save a further €5,000 if given additional time, reports Breaking News.
Dunphy said he would adjourn the case to June for finalisation to allow Brady to address the woman’s expenses as outlined in the victim impact statement, directing that the €5,000 be paid within the next 24 hours for onward transmission to the woman.
He said he would “somewhat reluctantly” remand Brady on continuing bail so he could continue working, adding that the court’s primary concern was the losses suffered by the woman, reports Breaking News.
Addressing the woman, Judge Dunphy said he was grateful for her attendance and expressed his desire to conclude the case “in the right way so that everyone can move on from this,” reports Breaking News.
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