Ireland Case No. 11166Sexual assault · Co. Clare · 15 Nov 2023
Ballinasloe farmer pleads guilty to sexual assault on Shannon to Boston flight
On 15 November 2023, a girl who was then 16 was sexually assaulted by Patrick Noone, 58, a farmer from Ballinasloe, Co Galway, on Aer Lingus flight E1135 bound for Boston, about an hour into the flight. Cabin crew alerted the captain, who turned the plane back to Shannon Airport at a cost to Aer Lingus of €28,213. The case moved from the District Court to the Circuit Court, and on 3 February 2026 Noone pleaded guilty at Ennis Circuit Court to two counts of sexual assault under Section 2 of the Criminal Law (Rape) Amendment Act. Sentencing is pending, with a probation report and a victim impact statement ordered.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Convicted3 Feb
2 reports - Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Patrick Noone, 58, a farmer, pleaded guilty to the sexual assault of a girl who was then 16 on an Aer Lingus flight bound for Boston.
- He pleaded guilty to rubbing and grabbing the girl's buttocks on the flight.
- He pleaded guilty to kissing the girl's arm and rubbing her thigh on the flight.
- Where
- The offences occurred on Aer Lingus flight E1135 bound for Boston from Shannon Airport.
- Noone is from Curragh, Kilconnell, Ballinasloe, Co Galway, and the plea was entered at Ennis Circuit Court, Co Clare.
- When
- The offences are dated 15 November 2023, at around 3.30pm, about an hour into the flight.
- Cause
- Cabin crew told the captain that a male passenger had allegedly touched a teenage girl inappropriately, and the plane was turned back.
- Other details
- The captain turned the plane around and flew back to Shannon Airport, at a cost to Aer Lingus of €28,213.
- According to his counsel, Antoinette Simon BL, Noone has no previous convictions.
- Investigation
- Statements were taken from the girl and her family at Shannon Airport during the turnaround.
- Charges
- Noone pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault under Section 2 of the Criminal Law (Rape) Amendment Act.
- In court
- The case was transferred from the District Court to the Circuit Court, where more serious penalties apply on conviction.
- The guilty plea was entered at Ennis Circuit Court on 3 February 2026, and was offered more than two weeks before the hearing.
- The judge granted a probation report for sentencing and directed gardaí to seek a victim impact statement from the complainant.
- Sentence
- No sentence has been imposed yet, and sentencing is pending.
24 statements extracted from the articles
- whatA man pleaded guilty to the sexual assault of a then 16-year-old girl on an Aer Lingus flight bound for Boston. (rte.ie)
- whatOne count involved rubbing and grabbing the girl's buttocks on board the flight. (rte.ie)
- whatThe second count involved kissing the girl's arm and rubbing her thigh on the flight. (rte.ie)
- whatHe pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting the girl by rubbing and grabbing her buttocks on the flight. (clareecho.ie)
- whatHe pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting the girl by kissing her arm and rubbing her thigh. (clareecho.ie)
- whereThe guilty plea was entered at Ennis Circuit Court. (rte.ie, clareecho.ie)
- whenThe offences are dated 15 November 2023. (rte.ie)
- whenThe incident happened about an hour into the transatlantic flight, at around 3.30pm. (rte.ie)
- whenThe two sexual assault counts relate to 15 November 2023. (clareecho.ie)
- causeCabin crew informed the captain that a male passenger had allegedly touched a teenage girl inappropriately, and the plane was turned back. (clareecho.ie)
- investigationCabin crew informed the captain that a male passenger had touched a teenage girl inappropriately. (rte.ie)
- investigationStatements were obtained from the girl and her family at Shannon Airport during the turnaround. (clareecho.ie)
- chargeThe accused pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault under Section 2 of the Criminal Law (Rape) Amendment Act. (rte.ie)
- courtThe case was sent from the District Court to the Circuit Court, where more serious penalties apply on conviction. (rte.ie)
- courtThe guilty plea was offered more than two weeks before the hearing. (rte.ie)
- courtA probation report was requested for the sentencing hearing. (rte.ie)
- courtThe judge directed gardaí to seek a victim impact statement from the complainant. (rte.ie)
- courtThe case was transferred from the District Court to the Circuit Court. (clareecho.ie)
- courtThe judge granted a probation report for sentencing and directed gardaí to seek a victim impact statement. (clareecho.ie)
- otherThe captain turned the plane around and flew back to Shannon Airport. (rte.ie)
- otherReturning the aircraft to Shannon cost Aer Lingus €28,213. (rte.ie)
- otherThe accused has no previous convictions. (rte.ie)
- otherThe costs of turning the flight back to Shannon were €28,213. (clareecho.ie)
- otherThe accused has no previous convictions, according to his counsel. (clareecho.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 3 Feb2026Ballinasloe farmer pleads guilty to sexual assault of girl (16) on Shannon to Boston flight - Clare Echo
Guilty plea entered at Ennis Circuit Court; judge ordered a probation report and a victim impact statement before sentencing.
victim, 16, femaleconvicted, Patrick Noone, 58, male, named, irish (judged from name)Patrick Noone - 3 Feb2026Man pleads guilty to sexual assault of girl on flight
Reports the guilty plea entered at Ennis Circuit Court on 3 February 2026. Sentencing is pending, with a probation report and a victim impact statement requested. No existing case matched.
convicted, Patrick Noone, 58, male, named, irish (judged from name)Patrick Noonevictim, 16, female