This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/london/8259688.stm
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Mother not guilty of flight abuse | Mother not guilty of flight abuse |
| (9 minutes later) | |
| A mother who was accused of allowing herself to be fondled by a passenger on a flight to Heathrow Airport has been cleared of being drunk on an aircraft. | A mother who was accused of allowing herself to be fondled by a passenger on a flight to Heathrow Airport has been cleared of being drunk on an aircraft. |
| Clare Irby, a descendant of the Guinness brewing dynasty, was flying from Bangalore, India, on March 26 when the alleged incidents occurred. | |
| She was accused of being abusive after having up to 10 glasses of wine. | She was accused of being abusive after having up to 10 glasses of wine. |
| However Ms Irby, 30, of Fulham, west London, told Isleworth Crown Court she was suffering from sleep deprivation. | |
| After the verdict, Ms Irby waved and smiled outside court. | |
| In a statement, her solicitor Richard Slade said: "Clare simply wants to say that she's delighted and relieved that she has been acquitted on this charge. | |
| Thanked jury | |
| "She wishes in particular to thank the jury for the time and careful consideration they have given this case and she now wants to be allowed a short period of quiet to enjoy some time with her family, in particular her young son." | |
| During the trial, Ms Irby told the court she felt sorry for passengers who had sat next to her. | |
| She 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." | |
| I was exhausted beyond belief - I was really, really tired Clare Irby | |
| Furthermore, Ms Irby said she was surprised when the flight captain banned her from being served more alcohol and accepted she asked for more wine after the decision had been made. | |
| She also accepted being "rather too curt with the air hostess" and added she was not as polite as usual. | |
| Ms Irby, the daughter of banker Paul Aschan, rejected allegations she had flirted with a fellow passenger 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." |