Disruptive pensioner arrested after causing chaos on Ryanair flight
Police were forced to board a Ryanair flight upon its landing in Edinburgh earlier this week after a "disruptive passenger" reportedly caused chaos onboard.
The FR9188 flight from Palma de Mallorca to Edinburgh on Wednesday, July 9, was scheduled to set off from Spain at 4.10pm and arrive in the Scottish capital at 6.10pm but it didn't touch down until around 7pm. It is understood that, upon landing, passengers had to remain seated as Police Scotland officers boarded the aircraft and arrested a 69-year-old man, who has since been charged, reports The Daily Record.
Ran by crew from Lauda Europe, a Maltese airline that operates on behalf of Ryanair, it remains unconfirmed what exactly the man did aboard the flight to prompt police attendance. Speaking on Friday, a spokesperson from Ryanair said: "The crew of this Lauda flight from Palma de Mallorca to Edinburgh (9 July) called ahead for police assistance after a passenger became disruptive onboard.
"The aircraft was met by local police upon arrival at Edinburgh Airport and this passenger was removed. Ryanair has a strict zero tolerance policy towards passenger misconduct and will continue to take decisive action to combat unruly passenger behaviour, ensuring that all passengers and crew travel in a safe and respectful environment, without unnecessary disruption.
"This is a matter for local police." A Police Scotland spokesperson also said on Friday: "Around 7pm on Wednesday, 9 July 2025 we received a report of a disruptive passenger on a flight from Palma to Edinburgh.
"Officers attended upon landing in Edinburgh Airport and a 69-year-old man was arrested and charged in connection with aviation offences. A report has been made to the Procurator Fiscal."
Edinburgh Airport was contacted for comment but referred to Ryanair. Lauda Europe has been approached directly for comment.
Join our Dublin Live breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive your daily dose of Dublin Live content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice .
For all the latest news from Dublin and surrounding areas visit our homepage .
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Irish Sun
a day ago
- The Irish Sun
Evil killer who beheaded girlfriend Phoenix Spencer Horn & tried to dismember her body at Scots flat jailed for 23 years
A MONSTER who butchered his girlfriend before severing her head in a barbaric killing has been caged for life. Ewan Methven, 27, 8 Ewan Methven has been caged for at least 23 years Credit: Police Scotland 8 He committed the savage killing at the flat in East Kilbride last November Credit: Les Gallagher 8 Phoenix's body was discovered by cops after Methven dialled 999 Credit: Les Gallagher 8 Phoenix Spencer-Horn had been dating Methven for two years before her murder Credit: fACEBOOK The 27 year-old postman later dialled 999 himself insisting he had a drug-induced blackout and could not remember what he had done. But, it emerged after stabbing the 21 year-old to death , he mutilated her body , pretended to her mother she was still alive while also trawling the internet for porn for hours. Methven admitted to the gruesome murder as he appeared in the dock at the High Court in Glasgow . Judge Lord Matthews ordered Methven to spend at least 23 years behind bars before he can be considered for parole. The judge said: 'You pleaded guilty to a dreadful crime, namely the murder of Phoenix Spencer-Horn who was a much loved and sorely missed daughter, sister, niece cousin and friend. 'At age 21 and 134 days she was standing at the threshold of what should have been a long fulfilling life. 'You were a trusted member of her family and you betrayed that trust and robbed her of a life in the cruellest way. 'Not content with what you did to her, you robbed her of all dignity in death by decapitating her and tried to dismember her in an attempt to defeat the ends of justice. Most read in The Scottish Sun 'The way you treated her after her death meant that her family didn't have the comfort of saying goodbye to her. 'No punishment I can inflect or what I can say or do can be enough and the only sentence that I can impose is life. Girl, 17, hands herself into police over murder of mom and stepdad who were gunned down three months ago 'I saw a letter written by you which answers none of the questions. 'You blame substances, but that is not an excuse.' Lord Matthews added: 'I have rarely read such outpourings of grief as are contained in the Victim Impact Statements from her family, who have endeavoured to put into words what can never truly be encapsulated, the sadness and the deep sense of loss they all feel and will continue to feel thanks to what you did. 'The way you treated this innocent young woman after her death meant that her family did not even have the comfort of saying goodbye to her.' Members of Phoenix's grieving relatives were at the sentencing. The couple had started dating two years before the killing. They had recently moved into the top floor one-bedroom flat in East Kilbride. 'No punishment I can inflect or what I can say or do can be enough and the only sentence that I can impose is life." Judge Lord Matthews Methven was employed by the Royal Mail while Phoenix - known as 'Phe' - held part times jobs at both the Strathaven Hotel and a local coffee shop. Phoenix had been working on November 16 - she was described as in "good spirits". Methven had texted her during her shift complaining of feeling "lonely" due to her hours. Phoenix apologised to her boyfriend. The postman had also been working that morning. He told a colleague he was then going home to "chill". Methven ordered a takeaway that night and the couple ate when Phoenix got back. The young woman had contacted her mum at 9.37pm stating she was at home having dinner. The court heard this was the last communication she had with her daughter. "You were a trusted member of her family and you betrayed that trust and robbed her of a life in the cruellest way." Judge Lord Matthews It was around midnight that a downstairs neighbour heard "loud noise and hurried footsteps". Prosecutor Chris McKenna said: "This coincided with increased activity recorded in an app measuring steps at 12.13am which was discovered upon later interrogation of Methven's phone. "At that time, around or shortly after midnight on November 16 through to November 17, Methven attacked Phoenix by compressing her neck and repeatedly stabbing her to the head and body." The court then heard of Methven's sick behaviour as his girlfriend lay dead including hacking at her with knives. He repeatedly arranged to buy drugs via contact on his phone. Killer's warped online posts EXCLUSIVE BY GORDON TAIT TWISTED Ewan Methven fantasised about violence from the age of 14. In chilling Facebook posts from his school days, the warped postman wrote: 'You've always got that one person you choke to smash f**k out of.' Other alarming remarks, uncovered from 2013 to 2014, read: 'It's kill or be killed' and 'I always get all tingly when angry and it makes me agitated'. The disturbing posts emerged after the fiend this week admitted killing and butchering Phoenix at their flat in East Kilbride. His now-deleted account listed his occupation as 'Local Drug Dealer & Occasional Pornstar'. Referring to an unknown female, Methven told how he wanted to 'kick her big horrible f****** teeth oot' in a vile post dating back to December 2015. And he raged: 'F*** peace everybody's gony die.' In a reply to a friend, he claims: 'I wantae kill the f*** out of you' while in another he hails hard drugs as 'the bomb'. Sources close to the brute described him as 'popular' in his hometown but with a mean streak and a 'dead' stare. READ MORE HERE Phoenix's mum Alison Spencer had also tried contacting her daughter on the morning of November 17. Methven instead got in touch initially claiming "Phe is not up yet" and that he would get her to message when she was. The sick killer then later pretended to be his girlfriend and sent a text to Alison. It stated: "Hey sorry I've just woken up xxx". Another claimed Phoenix was apparently "all good". The court heard, minutes after this, Methven logged on to the adult websites. 8 Methven admitted to the gruesome murder Credit: Supplied 8 Police at the scene in East Kilbride last year Credit: Les Gallagher 8 Judge Lord Matthews handed down a life sentence Mr McKenna: "Throughout the day on November 17, analysis of his phone and search history revealed that, for prolonged period over several hours, he accessed pornography from 8.12am through to 6.39pm. "He was noted to have accessed a pornographic video site 170 times." Methven was also captured on CCTV driving Phoenix's red Vauxhall Corsa. Concerns were raised when Phoenix did not turn up for work on November 18. Killer on 999 call: 'I know she is dead' Methen then went on to dial 999 that afternoon stating he had had "a drug induced psychotic break" and that he had "killed" his girlfriend. He told the operator: "The past day I have been trying to kind of muster up the courage to phone." Methven added Phoenix remained in the hall with a knife beside her. He said he had been taking steroids and cocaine, which he believed had been spiked. Methven: "I totally blacked out through the full thing." He mentioned having "stabbed" and "choked" Phoenix adding: "It was f***ing horrible." Asked by an officer who came on the line if Phoenix could still be alive, Methven replied: "I know she is dead, mate - she is dead." Cops made grim discovery in flat Police soon arrived and made the grim discovery of Phoenix's remains. Mr McKenna: "Phoenix's naked and mutilated body with her head decapitated was discovered by police covered up within the hall of their home. "An attempt had also been made by him to sever her torso, right wrist and ankle from her body. "There were two bloodstained knives lying next to the mutilated body. A further bloodstained knife was found discarded in the bedroom." Methven was described as "calm". "You robbed her of all dignity in death" Lord Judge Matthews Among the remarks Methven made on his arrest were: "I could not stay here with her like that. I tried to dismember her. I moved her from the bath and put her there." After he was put in a police cell, he said: "I guess this is what my next 25 years look like." The full extent of Phoenix's injuries were revealed at the hearing. She had suffered a total of 20 stab wounds - the fatal one to the chest. There were others in that area as well as to the face and buttocks. 'The ultimate betrayal' Methven also pleaded guilty to a charge of attempting to defeat the ends of justice including the mutilation of Phoenix's body and lying to her mum. His KC Tony Graham today told the sentencing that he was 'unable to offer an explanation to why the course of events led to her death other than his admission of drugs.' The advocate quoted Methven who said: 'I know how loved she was and how she made her family complete and I can't believe I took her from them.' Mr Graham then stated in his mitigation: 'Mr Methven appreciates there may be voids in relation to his memory and his ability to give an account of what took place. 'He has flashbacks to what took place but no real memory into how things occurred and progressed to the destruction of human life. 'He appreciates in the whole circumstances that during the two year relationship he was adopted [by her family] and to that family he delivered the ultimate betrayal.' Judge Lord Matthews: 'I have rarely read such outpourings of grief as are contained in the Victim Impact Statements from her family, who have endeavoured to put into words what can never truly be encapsulated. Read more on the Irish Sun "The sadness and the deep sense of loss they all feel and will continue to feel thanks to what you did. 'The way you treated this innocent young woman after her death meant that her family did not even have the comfort of saying goodbye to her.' 8 Phoenix Spencer-Horn Credit: Police Scotland
Dublin Live
a day ago
- Dublin Live
Disruptive pensioner arrested after causing chaos on Ryanair flight
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Police were forced to board a Ryanair flight upon its landing in Edinburgh earlier this week after a "disruptive passenger" reportedly caused chaos onboard. The FR9188 flight from Palma de Mallorca to Edinburgh on Wednesday, July 9, was scheduled to set off from Spain at 4.10pm and arrive in the Scottish capital at 6.10pm but it didn't touch down until around 7pm. It is understood that, upon landing, passengers had to remain seated as Police Scotland officers boarded the aircraft and arrested a 69-year-old man, who has since been charged, reports The Daily Record. Ran by crew from Lauda Europe, a Maltese airline that operates on behalf of Ryanair, it remains unconfirmed what exactly the man did aboard the flight to prompt police attendance. Speaking on Friday, a spokesperson from Ryanair said: "The crew of this Lauda flight from Palma de Mallorca to Edinburgh (9 July) called ahead for police assistance after a passenger became disruptive onboard. "The aircraft was met by local police upon arrival at Edinburgh Airport and this passenger was removed. Ryanair has a strict zero tolerance policy towards passenger misconduct and will continue to take decisive action to combat unruly passenger behaviour, ensuring that all passengers and crew travel in a safe and respectful environment, without unnecessary disruption. "This is a matter for local police." A Police Scotland spokesperson also said on Friday: "Around 7pm on Wednesday, 9 July 2025 we received a report of a disruptive passenger on a flight from Palma to Edinburgh. "Officers attended upon landing in Edinburgh Airport and a 69-year-old man was arrested and charged in connection with aviation offences. A report has been made to the Procurator Fiscal." Edinburgh Airport was contacted for comment but referred to Ryanair. Lauda Europe has been approached directly for comment. Join our Dublin Live breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive your daily dose of Dublin Live content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice . For all the latest news from Dublin and surrounding areas visit our homepage .
Extra.ie
2 days ago
- Extra.ie
Former AIB fraudster on run for 20 years kept conning victims using real name
A banker who went on the run after being accused of a multi-million fraud has been using his real name while living for almost 20 years within 'sighting distance' of Ireland, can reveal. It has also emerged that – despite being at the centre of an international manhunt – former AIB executive Kieran Ashcroft allegedly continued to defraud people of their life savings. At least 15 families in Scotland claim they lost more than €1m between them after employing the smooth-talking Cork man as a builder. Many of these complaints have been upheld by the UK Financial Ombudsman, and some of the families have received refunds from their banks. Kieran Ashcroft left Ireland over 20 years ago. Pic: File Ashcroft is being investigated by detectives from Greater Glasgow's Economic Crime and Financial Investigations unit. Sources also confirmed police in Scotland are 'liaising with counterparts from An Garda Síochána' as part of their investigation into the fraud allegations against Ashcroft. One of Ashcroft's alleged Scottish victims, Laura McKenchie from Glasgow, contacted gardaí and Interpol eight months ago to alert them about his then whereabouts. But since then, the trail appears to have run cold. Ashcroft has been on the run from the Irish authorities since 2004, when he went on the run after being arrested and questioned about a multi-million-euro fraud. However, it has emerged that the Corkman did not travel far and continued to use his real name when allegedly defrauding other victims in Scotland. Ashcroft came to the attention of gardaí after he was accused of swindling at least €3m – and possibly as much as €6m – from customers. Pic: KarlM Photography/Shutterstock Laura McKenchie urged gardaí to redouble their efforts to catch the wanted Cork man so that other people are not cheated of their life savings. Ms McKenchie said: 'It's a shock to learn from that he was using his real name… it's not like he was using a false name. 'He should have been easily identifiable. He has been able to do whatever he wants. I notified the gardaí last November about his whereabouts. Had he been caught [before this], I and all these other families would not be suffering and financially ruined. 'If it wasn't for the fact we have suffered so badly, you would almost admire the fact that he has managed to evade so many times over the years.' The mother-of-one said it is 'frustrating he is still out there'. Ashcroft left the country more than 20 years ago after he was dismissed from his job at the AIB branch in Midleton, Co. Cork. Pic: Artur Widak/NurPhoto/Shutterstock She told 'We're disappointed that he hasn't been caught despite us doing everything we can to show where he is, what he is going and the fact that there is history there. If the gardaí would expedite their efforts, it would put a stop to him being able to carry on this fraud and for vulnerable, innocent people to suffer. 'At the end of the day, you have people who I say are vulnerable. But so many of us in Glasgow were busy professional people who trusted a builder who wasn't a builder, and before we knew it, our life's savings were gone, and our homes were totally unliveable.' Ashcroft left the country more than 20 years ago after he was dismissed from his job at the AIB branch in Midleton, Co. Cork, where he had been entrusted to invest customers' life savings. He came to the attention of gardaí after he was accused of swindling at least €3m – and possibly as much as €6m – from customers, his employers, and other financial institutions, including the Bank of Ireland, ACC and Ulster Bank. The last known sighting of Kieran Ashcroft in the UK. Pic: File It is believed that, between 1998 and 2003, Ashcroft swindled money from as many as 20 people. His victims reportedly included his mother and his only sister. Some victims claimed they had lost as much as six-figure sums. But those familiar with the case suspected there were many other victims who were too embarrassed to come forward. A garda source told the MoS at the time: 'Ashcroft really played on people's fears of the Revenue, and when he was suspended from his job, the bank went to people asking them about their dealings with him. 'But these people thought he was such a nice fella that they told him the bank had been on to them. Ashcroft convinced these people that the bank would blow the whistle on them to the Revenue, and so these people did not get back to the bank.' The Isle of Colonsay. Pic: Getty Images 'He had several accounts with every bank, and he was very cute about covering his tracks. He got mortgages out on properties and then remortgaged them again so that when his house of cards came tumbling down, there were no assets to be seized, and the banks have sold some of these on.' Ashcroft was arrested by gardaí for questioning in February 2004. Soon afterwards, the father of one vanished, leaving in his wake a trail of debt, a usurped girlfriend, a young child and an anxious drug baron anxious to get his investment back. Gardaí believed the then 44-year-old had fled to Spain, where he was living under an assumed name. But instead of starting a new life on the Mediterranean, Ashcroft went no further than Scotland. He set himself up as a builder on the island of Colonsay, located in the Hebrides, which is visible from the coast of Co. Donegal on a clear day. But by the time the Cork man arrived on the island, which has a population of 125, he was no longer known as Kieran Ashcroft but was using the name Walter. This is also his father's name, and Ashcroft's official name on his birth certificate, which lists his name as Walter Kieran Ashcroft. At least five different families on the island who employed Ashcroft as a builder claim they were swindled after paying him to do work that was substandard. After leaving the remote island, Ashcroft then made his way to Glasgow. A further 15 families have now come forward to claim they were defrauded of thousands of euros. In Scotland, banks are obliged to refund money to unsuspecting customers who are defrauded by a known scammer. Some families have been refunded their money after the Financial Ombudsman ruled in their favour. More recently, Ashcroft has been spotted in the Perthshire area of Scotland, where he befriended a number of elderly people involved in a local Anglican church. He volunteered to do some work with them and often accepted meals in return for doing odd jobs for pensioners. The last known photo of Ashcroft shows the Cork man sharing Christmas dinner with some elderly members of the church. However, he has since been banned after church officials became aware of his colourful past. Asked if Ashcroft is still a person of interest, and why they had failed to find him even though he is using his official name, a garda spokesman said: 'This office does not comment on named individuals. An Garda Síochána continues to investigate reports of fraud at a financial institution in Ireland in 2004. As this is an ongoing investigation, this office has no further comment to provide.' A Police Scotland spokesperson added: 'We have received a number of reports of fraud in connection with building works carried out by a company in the Glasgow area. A joint investigation involving Police Scotland and Trading Standards Scotland is ongoing.'
