AN AER LINGUS passenger accused of punching windows and seats during an “extremely threatening” disturbance on a France to Ireland flight has been held on €200 bail.

Darren Davison, 59, of Ivy Bank Park, Donaghmore, Dungannon, Co Tyrone, allegedly punched windows and seats on the plane for just over an hour and a half during the trip.

Gardaí arrested him after he landed at Dublin Airport last night and charged him under the Air Navigation and Transport Act.

He is accused of being intoxicated and engaging in threatening and abusive behaviour during the flight and appeared before Judge Michael Ramsey at Dublin District Court today.

Court sergeant Derek Spain said the investigating garda was “not very successful in obtaining any information from this gentleman other than his name or identity”.

The sergeant said that the accused was a UK national who had been on an Aer Lingus flight from Lyon.

It was alleged that 15 minutes after take-off, “He acted in an extremely threatening and abusive manner, punching seats and punching windows, for the rest of the flight, for over an hour and a half”.

When asked if he had a solicitor, Davison said, “I’m representing myself.” However, he later agreed to the court providing him with a lawyer.

He has not yet indicated a plea and faced bail objections because he had an address outside the jurisdiction.

Pleading for bail, defence solicitor Daniel Hanahoe said the accused had €40 on him and would sign on at a Garda station in Co Monaghan, about 40 minutes from his home.

Judge Ramsey considered refusing the application because Davison was a flight risk but allowed bail in his bond of €200.

He remanded him in custody pending lodgement of the money to appear again tomorrow at Cloverhill District Court.