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| Mother denies flight fondle claim | Mother denies flight fondle claim |
| (21 minutes later) | |
| A mother has denied being fondled by a passenger on a flight to Heathrow Airport, saying the accusations were "outrageous" and "gobsmacking". | A mother has denied being fondled by a passenger on a flight to Heathrow Airport, saying the accusations were "outrageous" and "gobsmacking". |
| Clare Irby, a descendant of the Guinness brewing dynasty, is accused of being drunk while flying from Bangalore on Kingfisher Airlines on 26 March. | Clare Irby, a descendant of the Guinness brewing dynasty, is accused of being drunk while flying from Bangalore on Kingfisher Airlines on 26 March. |
| The 30-year-old, who was with her son, aged two, told Isleworth Crown Court that she was sleep-deprived. | The 30-year-old, who was with her son, aged two, told Isleworth Crown Court that she was sleep-deprived. |
| Ms Irby, of Fulham, west London, denies being drunk on an aircraft. | Ms Irby, of Fulham, west London, denies being drunk on an aircraft. |
| But she told the court that she felt sorry for passengers who had sat next to her. | But she told the court that she felt sorry for passengers who had sat next to her. |
| Tipsy | |
| Ms Irby said: "I personally feel sorry for people who sit by me because I know I'm louder than the average person, because I have a child who I care for and have to make sure he behaves as well as he can." | Ms Irby said: "I personally feel sorry for people who sit by me because I know I'm louder than the average person, because I have a child who I care for and have to make sure he behaves as well as he can." |
| She said she was "tipsy", having had four or five glasses of wine on the flight, but denied suggestion that she had actually consumed up to ten glasses. | |
| Furthermore, Ms Irby said she was surprised when the flight captain banned her from being served more alcohol and accepted that she asked for more wine after that decision had been made. | |
| I was really, really tired. I would say I was suffering from sleep deprivation at this point Clare Irby | I was really, really tired. I would say I was suffering from sleep deprivation at this point Clare Irby |
| She also accepted being "rather too curt with the air hostess" and added that she was not as polite as usual. | She also accepted being "rather too curt with the air hostess" and added that she was not as polite as usual. |
| It had been alleged that she had sworn at one flight attendant while putting her hand into the face of another. | |
| Ms Irby, the daughter of banker Paul Aschan, who is a descendant of the Guinness brewing family, rejected allegations that she had flirted with passenger Daniel Melia or had revealed her underwear while trying to get changed. | Ms Irby, the daughter of banker Paul Aschan, who is a descendant of the Guinness brewing family, rejected allegations that she had flirted with passenger Daniel Melia or had revealed her underwear while trying to get changed. |
| She said: "I was a bit relaxed but I was certainly very together. I was exhausted beyond belief. I was really, really tired. I would say I was suffering from sleep deprivation at this point." | She said: "I was a bit relaxed but I was certainly very together. I was exhausted beyond belief. I was really, really tired. I would say I was suffering from sleep deprivation at this point." |
| 'Acting flirtatiously' | 'Acting flirtatiously' |
| Previously in the hearing, Captain Vivek Sondhi told jurors that Ms Irby was "on the verge of being dangerous". | Previously in the hearing, Captain Vivek Sondhi told jurors that Ms Irby was "on the verge of being dangerous". |
| Meanwhile, flight attendant Shivaneji Sharma said that Ms Irby took off her skirt, revealing her G-string, before changing into a pair of leggings. | |
| Polly O'Callaghan, another passenger on the flight, alleged that Ms Irby had been acting flirtatiously with Mr Melia, 36. | Polly O'Callaghan, another passenger on the flight, alleged that Ms Irby had been acting flirtatiously with Mr Melia, 36. |
| 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. | 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 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. Mr Melia is not on trial. | It was further alleged that Mr Melia's girlfriend moved away from him because she was being ignored. Mr Melia is not on trial. |
| The trial continues. | The trial continues. |