By Sherry
It is alleged Shane McInerney ‘mooned’ cabin crew, threw cans at passenger and refused to wear mask.
Shane McInerney is the former professional footballer from Galway facing up to 20 years in prison in the US after he allegedly caused various disturbances on a flight from Dublin to New York.
He is also accused of mooning cabin crew, throwing cans at a passenger and refusing to wear a mask.
Shane McInerney (29), from Ballinasloe, was arrested on arrival in New York after allegedly causing “numerous disturbances” on a Delta flight from Dublin to JFK International Airport on January 7.
McInerney, who played for the Ireland international schoolboys football team, has lived in various parts of the world playing professional football and working as a coach.
In recent months he switched sports and started playing American football for a college team and was tipped as a potential future NFL player.
According to a federal complaint filed in the Eastern District of New York McInerney caused numerous disturbances throughout the flight.
The legal papers read: “During the approximately eight-hour flight, the defendant repeatedly refused to wear a face mask despite being asked dozens of times by flight crew personnel.”
McInerney has been charged with interfering with flight crew, a felony that carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
He made a court appearance last week and was released on bond. His lawyer, Benjamin Yaster, declined to comment.
In a statement, Delta said the airline “has zero tolerance for unruly behaviour at our airports and aboard our aircraft as nothing is more important that the safety of our people and our customers”.
According to the complaint, McInerney went to first class to remonstrate with cabin crew.
“The defendant who had an economy class seat walked to the Delta One class section of the airplane; complained about his food to one of the flight attendants and – in the process of being escorted back to his seat – pulled down his pants and underwear and exposed his buttocks to the individual,” the complaint said.
