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| 'Drunk mother fondled' on flight | |
| (about 11 hours later) | |
| A drunken mother revealed her G-string on a flight to Heathrow Airport and allowed a fellow passenger to fondle her, Isleworth Crown Court has heard. | A drunken mother revealed her G-string on a flight to Heathrow Airport and allowed a fellow passenger to fondle her, Isleworth Crown Court has heard. |
| Clare Irby, a member of the Guinness brewing dynasty, was flying from Bangalore on Kingfisher Airlines on 26 March when the incident occurred. | Clare Irby, a member of the Guinness brewing dynasty, was flying from Bangalore on Kingfisher Airlines on 26 March when the incident occurred. |
| Captain Vivek Sondhi told jurors Ms Irby, who was with her son, aged two, was "on the verge of being dangerous". | Captain Vivek Sondhi told jurors Ms Irby, who was with her son, aged two, was "on the verge of being dangerous". |
| Ms Irby, 30, of Fulham, west London, denies being drunk on an aircraft. | Ms Irby, 30, of Fulham, west London, denies being drunk on an aircraft. |
| She told the court that she had drunk "maybe four or five" glasses of red wine on the flight but was only "tipsy". | She told the court that she had drunk "maybe four or five" glasses of red wine on the flight but was only "tipsy". |
| Fondling denial | Fondling denial |
| She said: "I was still fully functioning with all my faculties. I wasn't drunk." | She said: "I was still fully functioning with all my faculties. I wasn't drunk." |
| Ms Irby said she spoke to fellow passenger, Daniel Melia, but said: "I can assure you no-one touched my breasts." | Ms Irby said she spoke to fellow passenger, Daniel Melia, but said: "I can assure you no-one touched my breasts." |
| She denied there was any issue with the way she changed her clothes on the flight, saying she took care to protect her dignity. | She denied there was any issue with the way she changed her clothes on the flight, saying she took care to protect her dignity. |
| However she admitted talking loudly, saying that her son "doesn't listen to me if I whisper". | However she admitted talking loudly, saying that her son "doesn't listen to me if I whisper". |
| Ms Irby criticised the flight attendants and said: "I didn't feel that they were particularly pleased by having a single parent and child, for some reason." | Ms Irby criticised the flight attendants and said: "I didn't feel that they were particularly pleased by having a single parent and child, for some reason." |
| The court heard that when police described Ms Irby's alleged behaviour, she told them: "It sounds like I'm hearing about a stranger." | The court heard that when police described Ms Irby's alleged behaviour, she told them: "It sounds like I'm hearing about a stranger." |
| However Polly O'Callaghan, another passenger on the flight, alleged that Ms Irby had been acting flirtatiously with Mr Melia. | However Polly O'Callaghan, another passenger on the flight, alleged that Ms Irby had been acting flirtatiously with Mr Melia. |
| The man was leaning forward and grabbing hold of her breast and they were kissing each other Arpita Mehra, flight attendant | The man was leaning forward and grabbing hold of her breast and they were kissing each other Arpita Mehra, flight attendant |
| Ms Irby and Mr Melia, 36, had drunk several glasses of wine together, the court was told. | Ms Irby and Mr Melia, 36, had drunk several glasses of wine together, the court was told. |
| Ms O'Callaghan said she heard Ms Irby say: "I'm not normally this relaxed. It's just all the opium I've been taking." | Ms O'Callaghan said she heard Ms Irby say: "I'm not normally this relaxed. It's just all the opium I've been taking." |
| She added that the comment may have been made in jest. | She added that the comment may have been made in jest. |
| She said the pair were loud and abusive, claiming they regularly pressed the attendant call button. | She said the pair were loud and abusive, claiming they regularly pressed the attendant call button. |
| It was further alleged that Mr Melia's girlfriend moved away from him because she was being ignored. | It was further alleged that Mr Melia's girlfriend moved away from him because she was being ignored. |
| Child concerns | Child concerns |
| Ms O'Callaghan said she also had concerns for Ms Irby's son, who was jumping up and down on a seat while Ms Irby slept. | Ms O'Callaghan said she also had concerns for Ms Irby's son, who was jumping up and down on a seat while Ms Irby slept. |
| She also said Ms Irby put her hand into the face of a female flight attendant, while swearing at another one. | She also said Ms Irby put her hand into the face of a female flight attendant, while swearing at another one. |
| Describing Ms Irby and Mr Melia's behaviour, Mr Sondhi said: "They were on the verge of being dangerous, I would say, so I asked my flight director to stop serving them any more liquor. | Describing Ms Irby and Mr Melia's behaviour, Mr Sondhi said: "They were on the verge of being dangerous, I would say, so I asked my flight director to stop serving them any more liquor. |
| "They were kind of sprawled in the seats. They were slurring and the man was a little more aggressive in his behaviour." | "They were kind of sprawled in the seats. They were slurring and the man was a little more aggressive in his behaviour." |
| Meanwhile, flight attendant Shivaneji Sharma said that Ms Irby took off her skirt, revealing her G-string, before changing into a pair of leggings. | Meanwhile, flight attendant Shivaneji Sharma said that Ms Irby took off her skirt, revealing her G-string, before changing into a pair of leggings. |
| Another flight attendant, Arpita Mehra, said: "She was busy with the guest sitting behind her. | Another flight attendant, Arpita Mehra, said: "She was busy with the guest sitting behind her. |
| "They were having a conversation and getting personal with each other and the child was crying. | "They were having a conversation and getting personal with each other and the child was crying. |
| "The man was leaning forward and grabbing hold of her breast and they were kissing each other." | "The man was leaning forward and grabbing hold of her breast and they were kissing each other." |
| Mr Melia is not on trial. | Mr Melia is not on trial. |
| The trial continues. | The trial continues. |