Galway spiritual healer Patrick Noone given suspended sentence for sexual assault on teenager on Aer Lingus flight
Patrick Noone, a 59-year-old spiritual healer and farmer from Ballinasloe, Co Galway, was sentenced at Ennis Circuit Court to a suspended 20-month prison term for two counts of sexual assault on a 16-year-old American woman. The assault took place on 15 November 2023 on an Aer Lingus flight from Shannon to Boston, during which Noone kissed the teenager's arm, moved his hand to her thigh, and grabbed her buttocks. The captain diverted the flight back to Shannon, where Noone was arrested and later taken by ambulance to University Hospital Limerick after complaining of chest pains. Judge Francis Comerford said the assaults fell into the lower range of offending but were serious given the victim's age, and a Probation Service report found Noone to be at low risk of reoffending.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced1 Aug
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Noone received a suspended 20-month prison term for two counts of sexual assault on a 16-year-old American woman.
- Noone, who was allocated a window seat but sat in the middle beside the teenager, kissed her arm, moved his hand to her thigh, and grabbed her buttocks while the seat belt lights were still on.
- Noone had five or six whiskeys before the flight and was on medication.
- The captain diverted the flight back to Shannon where Noone was arrested, and he was later taken by ambulance to University Hospital Limerick after complaining of chest pains.
- Noone said he was horrified and shocked and had no recollection of the incident.
- Noone has no previous conviction and a Probation Service report concluded he is at low risk of reoffending.
- Noone spent 15 days in Castlerea Prison for a breach of a court order.
- Where
- The assault took place on an Aer Lingus flight from Shannon to Boston.
- When
- The incident occurred on 15 November 2023.
- In court
- Judge Francis Comerford at Ennis Circuit Court said the assaults fell into the lower range of offending but were serious as perpetrated on a 16-year-old.
- The judge did not take into account a claim of acquired brain injury from a horse kick in October 2023.
- Other details
- The cost of the diverted flight was more than €28,000.
- Noone is a spiritual healer and farmer who travels abroad and has guided tours on his farm, and is a father of four daughters.
19 statements extracted from the articles
- whatNoone received a suspended 20-month prison term for two counts of sexual assault (irishtimes.com)
- whatNoone groped the teenager and kissed her arm (irishtimes.com)
- whatNoone had five or six whiskeys before the flight and was on medication (irishtimes.com)
- whatNoone is a father of four daughters (irishtimes.com)
- whatNoone was allocated a window seat but sat in the middle beside the teenager (irishtimes.com)
- whatNoone kissed her arm, moved his hand to her thigh, and grabbed her buttocks (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe captain flew the aircraft back to Shannon where Noone was arrested (irishtimes.com)
- whatNoone was brought by ambulance to University Hospital Limerick after complaining of chest pains (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe cost of the diverted flight was more than €28,000 (irishtimes.com)
- whatNoone said he was horrified and shocked and had no recollection of the incident (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe seat belt lights were still on during the incident (irishtimes.com)
- whatNoone has no previous conviction (irishtimes.com)
- whatNoone is a spiritual healer who travels abroad and has guided tours on his farm (irishtimes.com)
- whatNoone spent 15 days in Castlerea Prison for a breach of a court order (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe assault took place on an Aer Lingus flight from Shannon to Boston (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe incident occurred on 15 November 2023 (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe judge said the assaults fell into the lower range of offending but were serious as perpetrated on a 16-year-old (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe judge did not take into account a claim of acquired brain injury from a horse kick in October 2023 (irishtimes.com)
- otherA Probation Service report concluded Noone is at low risk of reoffending (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 1 Aug2026Galway ‘spiritual healer’ receives suspended prison term for sexually assaulting teenager on flight
Reports the sentencing of Patrick Noone at Ennis Circuit Court, including details of the assault, the victim's impact statement, the diversion of the flight, and the judge's reasoning.
victim, 16, female, American, non-irishconvicted, Patrick Noone, 59, male, named, irish (judged from name)Patrick Noone