Two brothers from New York convicted and jailed for an "air rage" offence got bail in the High Court in Dublin yesterday. Stephen and Brian Jones were brought back to Limerick Jail to sign bail bonds before the governor prior to their release.
The brothers pleaded guilty last Tuesday to an offence under Section 65 (3) of the Air Navigation (Amendment) Act, 1998. Stephen (39) was given the maximum jail term of four months and maximum fine of £700. His brother Brian (38) was jailed for three months and fined £500.
The gardai agreed to the release of the men provided they handed up their passports and air tickets. Mr Michael Purtill, for the brothers, said the gardai had consented to the two being released if each also made a cash lodgement of £1,000, notified the authorities where they would stay while in Ireland and report daily to a Garda station.
Afterwards, journalists were told the men would be making an application to Ennis Circuit Court next Tuesday for leave to appeal against their sentences. Relatives of the brothers are believed to have put up the cash lodgements totalling £2,000.