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Acquitted Guinness socialite 'delighted' ordeal is over
Emma Rowley17.09.09
A socialite accused of stripping down to her knickers and letting a stranger grope her breasts during a flight said today she was both "delighted and relieved" her six-month ordeal was over.
Clare Irby, a descendant of the Guinness brewing family, was accused of drinking up to 12 glasses of red wine on the flight from Bangalore, India, to London's Heathrow Airport on March 26.
But the jury of eight men and four women at Isleworth Crown Court, west London, took just 40 minutes to unanimously clear the single mother of being drunk on board an aircraft.
Miss Irby, 30, of Fulham, west London, smiled and looked at the ceiling as the jury foreman read out the not guilty verdict.
She stood quietly in the dock fighting back tears before putting her hand on her chest and later wiping tears from her cheeks.
She mouthed "Oh my God" to her mother, Emma, who was sitting in the public gallery to the side of the court when she was acquitted.
Her mother said: "It's great. I can't believe it."
Outside the courtroom, Miss Irby was laughing as she took a moment away from the cameras to hug her father, Old Etonian banker Paul Aschan, a scion of the Guinness brewing dynasty who has been in court with her throughout the three-day trial.
Later, Miss Irby waved and smiled for photographers as she hugged her mother outside.
At one point, she punched the air and said: "It's over!"
In a statement, her solicitor Richard Slade said: "Clare simply wants to say that she's delighted and relieved that she has been acquitted on this charge.
"She wishes in particular to thank the jury for the time and careful consideration they have given this case and she now wants to be allowed a short period of quiet to enjoy some time with her family, in particular her young son."
Miss Irby constantly denied being drunk, saying she was just "tipsy" as she was suffering from sleep deprivation after getting only two-and-a-half hours' sleep in 48 hours.
She insisted she had full control of her faculties, but admitted that she was "curt" with the flight attendants and "not as polite as I usually am".
Judge John Denniss told the jurors they had to decide whether Miss Irby was drunk on an aircraft while in the "territorial jurisdiction" of the UK.
This started about 20 minutes before the 10.5-hour flight landed at Heathrow at about 5pm, he said.
Miss Irby was banned from being served any alcohol after the first four hours of the flight - about 10.30am British time - and a police doctor declared she was sober and fit to be interviewed shortly before 10pm.
She denied fellow passenger Daniel Melia, 36, touched her breast, and said she did not strip to her knickers in order to change from her yellow skirt into warmer black leggings.
"He didn't touch me in any inappropriate manner. He didn't touch my breasts," she said.
Miss Irby said she was simply "exhausted" trying to care for her two-year-old son on little sleep.
The accusations against her were "outrageous" and "gobsmacking", she said.
"I was a bit relaxed but I was certainly very together," she said.
"I was exhausted beyond belief. I was really, really tired. I would say I was suffering from sleep deprivation at this point."
Asked why she told police who interviewed her at Heathrow that her head was "spinning", she said it was from the tiredness.
"When you're tired and you're hearing all these outrageous accusations... I was shocked. My jaw was on the floor."
Miss Irby also blamed her two-year-old son for her repeatedly pressing the attendant call button, saying she needed soft drinks for him, and for her talking loudly.
"I personally feel sorry for people who sit by me because I know I'm louder than the average person because I have a child who I care for and have to make sure he behaves as well as he can," she said.
Reader views (44)
oh to have an old etonian freemason daddy.
justice for those who can afford it as usual.
- Marcus Bossendorfer, cornwall
It doesn't matter if she was smasshed or not. She got off coz the jury was told it didn't happen in our airspace, hence no actual offence, just offensive.
- Lescm19, Essex
I hope the stewardesses that were caught overreacting/ lying get fired or disciplined. It seems Kingfisher airlies cannot be trusted.
- Jacqueline, Hampstead, London
I suppose she will be on the Jonathon Ross show now.
- Jimfred, London Uk
It's alright saying that one ought not have any alcohol at all when traveling, but the consequence then is that one overeats; putting on calories is far easier than taking them off.
.
- Rebeccaofsunnybrookfarm, Parish of Westminster.
Great decision, go on and enjoy your life
- Andy, Winchester
Considering the guy pleaded guilty to being drunk seperately and will be sentenced later, she should be feeling pretty grateful right about now.
- Louise, Essex
She should have flown with a charter airline - at almost GBP 10.00 for two miniscule G&Ts (<50ml) for me and the Memsahib the other week, I defy anyone to get stocious before they are declared legally bankrupt. I don’t so much mind the “London plus” prices, but the ambience was not up to much. And don't even get me started on the price of the nuts...
- Call Me Cynical, Aldershot, Hampshire
What a waste of time,what was the actual charge, being drunk on a plane, or acting innapropriatly is not a criminal matter. Without a breath/blood test this should have never have gone to court. The airline should announce that she is banned from the airline.Also by finding her not guilty the magistrates obviously did not believe the Air Hostess, and on that alone the CPS should appeal as standards on airlines have to be upheld.
- Jim Allan, Lake District
I can see how accusation are inflated. I was on a United flight and the passenger in front, sat back really heavily in his seat, knocking my food tray over me. This after I had complained to the stewardess that his seat was too far back for me to get food to my mouth. I leant forward and tapped him on the head with a finger to complain. He leapt out of his seat and complained and the stewardess asked me why I had "punched" him. If it had not been for a more level headed steward, I may have been the victim of total lies and exaggeration and probably some conviction for an assault that never took place.
All is not as stated by some airline staff. Merely touching some in the US is "assault" and dictionary definitions do not bare comparison across the Atlantic. Staff seem to side instantly and see what they want to see.
- Coylum, vancouver, Canada
Despite the fact that it really does seem that there is one law for the rich and successful, as recent cases have shown, her antics could give sensible people, who enjoy a glass of wine with an airline meal, a bad name.
- Mark, Venice, Italy
LUCKY very LUCKY to have walked away from this one!.
Don't let it happen again at your peril.
My family have always said that for the last forty years someones put a curse on this family. Despite all their wealth, bad-luck doggs them, wherever they go.
- Frank, Bristol UK
Whatever amount she has been drinking for the rest of the week, drinking 10 glasses of wine is binge drinking. Airlines should have rules restricting the amount of alcohol they serve in any class for the safety of other passengers and crew members.
The police should have arranged an alcohol breath test at the airport to avoid any dispute.
- Tohk, London
Good on her. What fun she sounds Sorry I wasn`t next to her on the plane
- John Parry, london
I wonder what the jury noticed. Check the alternative stories on the internet - no more edifying, but somewhat different.
- Steve, London, England
If it was Ryanair o' Leary would have charged extra for the grope.
- Richard, Cambridge
Well that was a big waste of our money wasn't it?
- Stephen C, London
What on earth was a Guinness heiress doing sitting in economy?
- Shawn, London, UK
Unless she was breathalised, nobody can claim with any certainty that she was drunk. Quite right that she was acquitted. Without a calibrated breath test, this should never have gone to court - what a waste of tax money!
- Patrick, London
A jury took only 40 minutes to find the lady not guilty. Yet we have all those people posting comments here, without hearing all the evidence and observing the woman in court, mainttaining she was guilty. There seems little sense of justice among ES readers.
- Wonderer, Toronto, Canada
Couple of things worth pointing out. Anyone with a 2 year old doesn't get much sleep. I can understand that alcohol, combined with altitude and lack of sleep can be a very powerful combination. Changing from your skirt into slack pants is also not unusual on long flights, if the loos were occupied etc.
I think the right decision was made here.
- Hansel, London
There seems to be an ongoing problem with drunks on planes... answer...don't sell alcohol at all. Problem solved!
- Mark , Cheshire, Runcorn. England
Boring story, people get wibbly on planes all the time. I think it sounds like a big over-reaction from the stewards and a massive waste of time for the courts.
- James, London, Maida Vale
I feel I should point out to the above posters that she has been cleared of all the allegations the prosecution raised. The clue was in headline.
- S, London
How is it that I never get to sit next to a pretty, plastered, flirty socialite when I travel? Not fair!
- Dan, Staffordshire
What is she doing drinking alcohol at all. She was with her 2 year old son, she shouldn't be drinking at all!!
- Parker, UK
Its a bit rich for the airline to sell\give her the alcohol and then complain that she was drunk.Surely the airline should bear at least half of the blame.
- John, London
One rule for the aristocracy.........another rule for us.
- Nwan King, London
So all the other passengers and cabin crew just imagined the appalling behaviour and irritation? I doubt that. Or does Guinness money buys effective lawyers?
- Sidney Marks, London, UK
Tiresome little nonentity is having her 15 minutes. Why couldn't she just take a slap on the wrists and resolve not to drink so much in future?
- Jed, London
I feel sorry for her child being reared by this spoilt brat.
- Mick W, cannock,England
What amazes me is that the man's gf was on the plane too. What a snake he is ( if true they got off!)
- Essie, London
Publicans can't sell drink to drunks. Why are airlines allowed to GIVE drink to drunks?
- Stephen C, London
What a really doughnut
- Sarah Jane, Basvegas
Flying is not what it used to be.
- Jimfred, London UK
I find it hard to believe that no one filmed this on a mobile phone or digital camcorder... seems everything else gets filmed?
- Paul, London
I also blame the airline,there should be a limit to the quantity of alcahol a passenger can be given.
- David Nigel Braham, Milan Italy
Will the airline also be charged with aiding and abetting and putting passengers lives at risk? They fill you up with drink and then complain when people are affected by it.
- Jack Spratt, Richmond, Surrey
Drunks always say im not drunk.
- Richard Edmunds, Rayleigh Essex
How ungrateful of her..drinking Wine and not Guinness
- El Del, Valencia Spain
If this is true then not only should she face charges but the airline staff should be fired for allowing her to consume so much alcohol on a flight.
- H, London, UK
Was there a blood test done at the time? Sounds like drink may have been spiked with a substance.
- Cjp, London, UK
money can't buy class - this woman needs to act responsibly especially as she's brought life into the world - that child will be so proud in years to come when it sees this
- David, soton
who cares
what a waste of court time
- Ashgl, London
