Ireland Case No. 3075Sexual assault · Co. Dublin
Man sentenced for sexual assault on Ryanair flight to Dublin
Aaron Brady, 31, of Killeshandra, Co. Cavan, was sentenced on 15 May 2026 to a two-year suspended sentence for sexually assaulting a woman working as cabin crew on a Ryanair flight to Dublin. The assault took place in the crew area of the aircraft about 40 minutes before landing at Dublin Airport, while Brady was heavily intoxicated. He was arrested on landing, initially charged under the Air Navigation and Transport Act 1973, and later pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in April 2026. The sentence includes three years of probation supervision, a residential alcohol treatment programme, and €3,130 in compensation to the victim, who has since resigned from Ryanair.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Convicted16 Apr
- Sentenced15 May
4 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- A woman working as cabin crew was sexually assaulted in the crew area of a Ryanair aircraft.
- Where
- The assault took place in the crew area of the aircraft's back galley on an inbound flight to Dublin Airport.
- When
- The incident occurred approximately 40 minutes before the flight was due to land at Dublin Airport.
- Cause
- Brady had consumed around five bottles of wine at the airport and between 12 and 15 mini bottles of alcohol during the flight.
- Investigation
- Brady was arrested as a disruptive passenger on landing and escorted to Dublin Airport Garda Station after resisting arrest.
- Charges
- Brady was initially charged under the Air Navigation and Transport Act 1973 before being released, and later pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting the woman.
- In court
- The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court before Judge Jonathan Dunphy, with sentencing adjourned from April to May 2026.
- Sentence
- Brady received a two-year suspended sentence with conditions including three years of probation supervision, offence-focused work, addiction supports, and a residential alcohol treatment programme.
- Brady was ordered to pay €3,130 in compensation to the victim, with a further €5,000 directed to be paid within 24 hours.
- Other details
- The victim resigned from Ryanair and experienced financial losses of over €3,000, panic, anxiety, and nightmares.
- Brady was banned from Ryanair flights for five years and has a previous 2016 conviction for failing to report a hit and run.
70 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThe woman was sexually assaulted while working as cabin crew on a Ryanair flight. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe assault took place in a tight and confined space where colleagues were also present. (irishtimes.com)
- whatBrady sexually assaulted a Ryanair cabin crew member during a flight to Dublin. (rte.ie)
- whatThe man sexually assaulted the cabin crew member in the crew area of the aircraft's back galley. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe incident occurred on an inbound flight to Dublin Airport, approximately 40 minutes before landing. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatBrady was heavily intoxicated, having drunk around five bottles of wine at the airport and between 12 and 15 mini bottles during the flight. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatBrady resisted arrest and was handcuffed before being escorted to Dublin Airport Garda Station. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatAaron Brady, 31, of Main Street, Killeshandra, Co. Cavan, pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a Ryanair cabin crew member on an inbound flight to Dublin Airport. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatBrady drank between 12 and 15 mini bottles of alcohol during the flight. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatThe victim resigned from Ryanair. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatThe victim faced financial losses of over €3,000 due to the incident including sick leave, voluntary absences and her resignation. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatBrady handed over €3,130 to cover the woman's out-of-pocket expenses. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatBrady resisted arrest and had to be handcuffed before being escorted to Dublin Airport Garda Station. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatThe victim described experiencing intense panic, anxiety and nightmares. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatThe victim is on a waiting list to see a psychologist. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatThe victim was taking a break in the crew area of the aircraft's back galley when the incident occurred. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatBrady showed the woman and two colleagues his foot, then put it on the woman's lap. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatAaron Brady pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a woman on an inbound flight to Dublin Airport. (irishtimes.com)
- whatBrady hugged the woman and placed his hand on her outer thigh, rubbing it and her buttocks over her clothing. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe captain was alerted mid-flight and gardaí boarded the flight after being told about a disruptive passenger. (irishtimes.com)
- whatBrady drank around five bottles of wine with his partner at the airport before boarding and potentially 12 to 15 mini-bottles of alcohol during the flight. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe assault happened in the crew area of the aircraft. (rte.ie)
- whenThe incident occurred about 40 minutes before the plane was due to land at Dublin. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe assault happened about 40 minutes before the plane was due to land. (rte.ie)
- whenThe incident occurred while the flight was in the air, approximately 40 minutes before it was due to land in Dublin. (dublinlive.ie)
- whenThe incident occurred about 40 minutes before the flight was due to land in Dublin. (irishtimes.com)
- causeBrady had consumed a large amount of alcohol before and after boarding the plane. (rte.ie)
- investigationBrady was arrested for being a disruptive passenger when the plane landed. (rte.ie)
- investigationGardaí boarded the flight after being alerted to a disruptive passenger and met the intoxicated Brady. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeAaron Brady, 31, of Main Street, Killeshandra, Co Cavan, pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting the woman on the flight. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeBrady was initially charged under the Air Navigation and Transport Act 1973 before being released. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeBrady pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting the woman on an inbound flight to Dublin Airport. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeBrady was initially charged with offences under the Air Navigation and Transport Act 1973 before being released. (dublinlive.ie)
- courtThe case was adjourned until June for finalisation. (irishtimes.com)
- courtBrady pleaded guilty when the case came to court. (rte.ie)
- courtThe case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. (rte.ie, dublinlive.ie)
- courtThe case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court before Judge Jonathan Dunphy. (irishmirror.ie, irishtimes.com)
- sentenceThe judge directed that the €5,000 should be paid over within the next 24 hours. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceA two-year sentence was suspended under strict conditions. (rte.ie)
- sentenceBrady must attend a residential alcohol treatment programme and be supervised by probation for three years. (rte.ie)
- sentenceBrady was ordered to pay €3,130 to compensate the injured party. (rte.ie)
- sentenceConditions include probation supervision, offence-focused work, addiction supports and a residential alcohol treatment programme. (irishmirror.ie, dublinlive.ie)
- sentenceConditions include probation service supervision, offence-focused work, addiction supports, and a residential alcohol treatment programme. (irishtimes.com)
- otherBrady had no memory of the incident. (irishtimes.com)
- otherBrady drank around five bottles of wine with his partner at the airport before boarding the flight. (irishtimes.com, dublinlive.ie)
- otherBrady potentially consumed between 12 and 15 mini bottles of alcohol during the flight. (irishtimes.com)
- otherBrady said he had not had a drink in a year. (irishtimes.com)
- otherBrady was banned from Ryanair flights for five years. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe woman faced financial losses of more than €3,000 due to the incident, including sick leave, voluntary absences and her resignation. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe woman had resigned from Ryanair after the incident. (irishtimes.com)
- otherBrady had €5,000 available as a gesture of remorse which the woman was willing to accept. (irishtimes.com)
- otherBrady worked in an ice-cream factory. (irishtimes.com)
- otherBrady offered a personal apology to the woman and said he remembered nothing of the incident. (rte.ie)
- otherThe victim said she lost over €3,000 in earnings after being off work sick, taking voluntary leave and eventually resigning. (rte.ie)
- otherThe woman faced financial losses of over €3,000 including sick leave, voluntary absences and her resignation. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherBrady has one previous conviction for failing to report a hit and run from 2016, for which he received a €400 fine. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherBrady has a problem with drink and depression, and has not had a drink in a year. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe woman experienced intense panic, anxiety and nightmares and is on a waiting list to see a psychologist. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe woman resigned from Ryanair after the incident. (irishmirror.ie, irishtimes.com)
- otherBrady was on his way home from a holiday with his partner, who was asleep during the flight. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherBrady was deemed unfit for questioning initially due to his level of intoxication. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherBrady works in an ice cream factory and plays on the senior team for his local GAA club. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherBrady has no memory of the incident. (dublinlive.ie)
- otherBrady has a previous conviction for failing to report a hit and run from 2016, for which he received a €400 fine. (dublinlive.ie)
- otherBrady is on the waiting list with Merchants Quay for alcohol treatment. (dublinlive.ie)
- otherBrady plays on the senior team for his local GAA club. (dublinlive.ie)
- otherBrady has a history of depression. (dublinlive.ie)
- otherBrady has not had a drink in a year and has a problem with drink which he is addressing. (irishtimes.com)
- otherBrady also struggled with depression. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe woman experienced intense panic, anxiety and nightmares and was on a waiting list to see a psychologist. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 15 May2026Man who sexually assaulted Ryanair worker on flight given suspended sentence
Reports the full sentencing hearing, including the victim impact statement, details of the assault, the accused's alcohol consumption, and the suspended sentence with conditions.
victim, femaleconvicted, Aaron Brady, 31, male, named, irish (judged from name)Aaron Brady - 15 May2026Man who sexually assaulted Ryanair cabin crew member walks free
Sentencing hearing at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court; two-year sentence suspended for three years with conditions including probation supervision, offence-focused work, addiction supports and a residential alcohol treatment programme. Victim impact statement read to court; victim resigned from Ryanair.
convicted, Aaron Brady, 31, male, named, irish (judged from name)Aaron Bradyvictim, female - 15 May2026Man who sexually assaulted Ryanair cabin crew member walks free
Reports the sentencing hearing at which Judge Dunphy imposed a two-year suspended sentence with conditions including probation supervision, offence-focused work, addiction supports and a residential alcohol treatment programme. Includes the victim's impact statement and detailed account of the assault.
victim, femaleconvicted, Aaron Brady, 31, male, named, irish (judged from name)Aaron Brady - 15 May2026Suspended sentence for man who assaulted Ryanair worker
Reports the sentence: a two-year sentence suspended on conditions, with alcohol treatment, three years' probation supervision and €3,130 compensation. Adds the victim impact statement and the defendant's account that he remembered nothing.
convicted, Aaron Brady, 31, male, named, irish (judged from name)Aaron Bradyvictim, female - 16 Apr2026Ryanair crew member left her job after being sexually assaulted during flight, court hears
Court hearing where Brady pleaded guilty; victim impact statement read; sentencing adjourned to June; continuing bail granted; €5,000 directed to be paid within 24 hours.
victim, femaleconvicted, Aaron Brady, 31, male, named, irish (judged from name)Aaron Brady