Trial date wait for 'air rage' man as US judge refuses to grant bail
PORTADOWN man Aiden Mackle, arrested after an 'air rage' incident in America, is facing an uncertain wait for a trial date after being denied bail.
At a hearing on Monday, a federal judge in Bangor, Maine, said Mr Mackle's alcohol and mental health issues made him a "flight risk" and that she couldn't release him.
It is believed the setting of a trial date will depend on how the lawyers on either side decide to proceed, and on how Mr Mackle pleads.
The 44-year-old, who runs a washing machine repair business just off the Dungannon Road, allegedly threatened to blow up the Delta airliner en route from Atlanta to Dublin, on which he was a passenger on March 1, claiming he had links with Osama bin Laden.
Mr Mackle is charged with interfering with a flight crew and assault, after his behaviour forced the pilot to make an emergency landing.
At Monday's 40-minute court hearing, US Magistrate Judge Margaret Kravchuk found probable cause for the charges and sided with Amie Blanchette of the US Probation Office who testified that Mackle should be detained at Penobscot County Jail until his trial.
The judge noted Mr Mackle's lack of prior criminal involvement, strong community ties in Northern Ireland and supportive family, both in the United Kingdom and in the US, but she said those factors were outweighed by his history of alcohol abuse and mental health problems.
Noting that Mr Mackle has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, the judge quoted his sister as saying he falls victim to "depressive drunken rages" when that illness combines with alcohol abuse. Mr Mackle's family had also told the court he "can become extremely angry when drunk, although in the past his violence has been verbal only".
Judge Kravchuk said Mr Mackle has been under stress because of his parents' illnesses, the death of his brother-in-law and financial and emotional strains of repeated trips to San Diego to help his sister.
She also said Mr Mackle had admitted "he cannot drink alcohol without suffering serious consequences".
While in the US, the judge said, Mr Mackle had shut down his appliance repair business, leaving him with no income or apparent means of support.
According to an FBI affidavit, the problems on the plane began after Mr Mackle, who had been drinking, allegedly went into the toilet and smoked a cigarette. He then became verbally abusive to a flight attendant, telling her he was associated with Osama bin Laden and was going to hijack the plane.
After being told that the flight may have to make an emergency landing because of his behaviour, Mr Mackle allegedly old an off-duty pilot who was trying to calm him down, "OK, I'm a terrorist. Go ahead and land the plane", and proceeded to punch him in the stomach.
The Boeing 767, with 184 other passengers aboard, made the emergency landing at Bangor International Airport, where Mr Mackle was arrested and removed from the plane. The plane spent about two hours on the ground before resuming the flight.
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Weather for Portadown
Wednesday 23 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 8 C to 18 C
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