Wednesday 28 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 1514Offensive behaviour on an aircraft (Air Navigation and Transport Act) · Co. Dublin · 22 Jan 2025

Croatian football fans walk free as Ryanair flight disruption trial collapses

Four Croatian men were arrested on 22 January 2025 after a disturbance on a Ryanair flight at Dublin Airport that delayed the aircraft, which they had boarded to travel to London for a Champions League match. Marco Bajzec, 41, Zvonimir Prkacin, 40, Luis Buic, 38, and Tomislav Zajec, 39, were charged with offensive behaviour on the aircraft under the Air Navigation and Transport Act, granted bail, and pleaded not guilty. On 13 June 2025, their non-jury trial at Dublin District Court collapsed after the defence raised a disclosure issue regarding a prosecution witness statement. Judge Susan Fay described the failure as a 'genuine oversight' and struck out the case, and the four walked free.

  1. Reported
  2. Arrested
  3. Charged
  4. In court
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Four Croatian football supporters were accused of a disturbance on a Ryanair flight at Dublin Airport that delayed the aircraft.
  • The four had been travelling to London for the Dinamo Zagreb versus Arsenal FC Champions League match at the Emirates Stadium.
  • A cabin crew member testified that one of the men stood asking to use the toilet just before take-off, and the captain was told the men were not complying with safety regulations.
Where
Marco Bajzec, 41, is from Beechwood Park, Ballyboe, Glencar, Co Donegal, and Zvonimir Prkacin, 40, Luis Buic, 38, and Tomislav Zajec, 39, are all from Confey, Leixlip, Co Kildare.
When
The four were arrested on 22 January 2025.
Charges
They were charged with offensive behaviour on the aircraft under the Air Navigation and Transport Act at the airport and Ballymun Garda stations.
Other details
The four were granted bail on the day of their arrest and pleaded not guilty.
In court
  • The case went to a non-jury hearing at Dublin District Court on 13 June 2025.
  • The trial collapsed after the defence raised a disclosure issue, as the prosecution witness's statement had not been furnished to the men's lawyers before the hearing.
  • Judge Susan Fay described the disclosure failure as a 'genuine oversight' and struck out the case, and the four walked free.
11 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatFour Croatian football supporters were accused of a disturbance on a plane which delayed a Ryanair flight at Dublin Airport. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe four had hoped to fly to London for the Dinamo Zagreb versus Arsenal FC Champions League match at the Emirates Stadium. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatA cabin crew member testified that one of the men stood asking to use the toilet just before take-off. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe plane could not take off and the men were eventually offloaded from the aircraft. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe captain was told the men were not complying with safety regulations and it was not possible to proceed. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereMarco Bajzec, 41, is from Beechwood Park, Ballyboe, Glencar, Co Donegal. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereZvonimir Prkacin, 40, Luis Buic, 38, and Tomislav Zajec, 39, are all from Confey, Leixlip, Co Kildare. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe four were arrested on 22 January 2025. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeThey were charged with offensive behaviour on the aircraft. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeThe four were charged under the Air Navigation and Transport Act at the airport and Ballymun Garda stations. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe case went to a non-jury hearing at Dublin District Court on Friday. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 13 Jun2025
    Otheririshtimes.com, first report
    Croatian football fans accused of disrupting Ryanair flight from Dublin go free as trial collapses

    The trial collapsed after the defence raised a disclosure issue: the prosecution witness's statement had not been furnished to the men's lawyers before the hearing. Judge Fay described it as a 'genuine oversight' and struck out the case.

    accused, Marco Bajzec, 41, male, Croatian, named, non-irishMarco Bajzecaccused, Zvonimir Prkacin, 40, male, Croatian, named, non-irishZvonimir Prkacinaccused, Luis Buic, 38, male, Croatian, named, non-irishLuis Buicaccused, Tomislav Zajec, 39, male, Croatian, named, non-irishTomislav Zajec