Pensioner kicked out at airport police after getting drunk following flight delay
A pensioner kicked out at a member of the airport police as she was being removed from an aeroplane due to her drunken behaviour, a court has heard.
Bernadette Kennerk (68) was taking a flight from Dublin to Alicante but she had too much to drink after her flight was delayed.
She was very embarrassed about the incident, of which she had very little memory, her lawyer said.
Judge Stephanie Coggans said Kennerk’s behaviour was completely unacceptable and fellow passengers must have been terrified. Judge Coggans said that due to the location of the offences, she considered them very serious.
However, the judge accepted that Kennerk was in her 60s and had never been in trouble before. She ordered Kennerk to donate €500 to the court poor box and said she would strike out the charges.
The defendant, with an address at Oldcourt View, Firhouse, Co Dublin, admitted public drunkenness, threatening and abusive behaviour and assaulting an airport police officer at Terminal 1, Dublin Airport, on October 4, 2025.
The defendant had little memory of her behaviour
Sergeant Michael McGreal told Balbriggan District Court that Kennerk was intoxicated on board an aeroplane and had to be removed. As she was being removed, she kicked out at a female member of the airport police.
The victim did not suffer any injuries, the sergeant said.
The court heard Kennerk had no previous convictions.
Defence lawyer Sarah Redmond said that Kennerk had been travelling to a family home in Alicante for 18 years and had never previously had any problems.
Ms Redmond said the flight had been delayed and Kennerk had too much to drink as she waited for her flight.
The defendant had little memory of her behaviour, the lawyer added.
Ms Redmond said Kennerk had to be removed from the plane and was very embarrassed about her behaviour.
The defendant, a mother of seven, was divorced and was in receipt of a pension, the court heard.
Judge Coggans said that she would adjourn the matter for six months to allow Kennerk to make the donation to the poor box.