As solicitors for two men convicted of air rage prepare to go to the High Court this week, it has emerged that the Canadian nationals were yesterday stopped by US immigration officials at Shannon Airport and prevented from boarding a flight to New York.
Warren Clamen (39) and Guy Saint Arnaud (42), both from Canada but now living in New York, received suspended prison terms and substantial fines on Monday after they pleaded guilty to charges arising out of the incident on board a transatlantic jet last Friday.
Judge Mangan ordered that the International Civil Aviation Organisation be notified of the details of the case notwithstanding that an appeal was being lodged.
However, after protracted legal argument at Gort District Court on Monday, Judge Mangan said his ruling should stand. The defendants' legal team is now expected to go to the High Court this week to seek a judicial review of that order.
Clamen and Saint Arnaud were stopped at Shannon Airport yesterday and prevented from boarding a flight to New York. There was no comment from the US Immigration and Naturalisation service at Shannon.
The pair might now have to stay in Clare for several days and travel to the US embassy in Dublin to make their case for returning home.
The two, who are said to be very upset at this latest development, received suspended prison sentences totalling nine months and 12 months respectively.
They were also fined €6,200 and €5,550, almost the maximum financial penalty for the charges.
Following an appeal from solicitor Ms Catríona Carmody not to impose custodial sentences on her clients, Judge Mangan agreed that he would suspend the sentences if the pair paid "an unprecedented $12,000 each into the court fund".
The pair had been travelling from New York to London on board American Airlines' flight 122 last Friday morning when the aircraft was forced to divert to Shannon Airport.
Judge Mangan was told that the cost of making the unscheduled stop at Shannon was $10,575, while the cost of repairing damage caused on board the aircraft was $9,233.
A cheque for the total amount was presented in court and will be forwarded to American Airlines by the Garda. The judge also ordered that the pair not fly for two years - except to return to the United States.
Although Clamen and Saint Arnaud will appeal the two-year flying ban, that condition will not come into effect until the appeals process has been concluded. Despite this, immigration officials at Shannon yesterday grounded the pair.
It is now expected that a challenge to the order will be lodged in the High Court later this week. The cost of compensation, fines and contributions to the court fund is almost €50,000, while the pair could also pay $20,000 if they breach the conditions of their bond.