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15/12/2009
Fine For Chopper Shopper
A man has been fined €5,000 after landing a helicopter on a shopping centre roof in County Westmeath.
Sean O'Brien, 50, of Ballycumber, County Offaly was found guilty on 10 charges in relation to the incident which occurred at the Parkrite Texas Centre, in July 2007.
The court heard how Mr O'Brien landed the helicopter on the roof of the shopping centre in near the town centre of Athlone in County Westmeath so he could collect keys.
O'Brien was also given a six-month suspended prison sentence.
During the hearing, Mr O'Brien admitted to the court he should not have landed in Athlone, or dropped below 1,500ft in a built up area, saying: "I would never do that again."
Solicitor Tom Madden said his client was a man of "no means" who did not own the helicopter and was now on disability.
He claimed to have been applying "completely different" flying instructions acquired in the US.
However, the judge at Athlone District Court asked him: "You are telling me in Florida there are no regulations in relation to landing a helicopter on top of a supermarket."
Although there were 10 separate charges, Judge Anderson said the one overriding charge was that of "dangerous and negligent" use of a helicopter.
The remaining nine charges would be taken into consideration, he added.
(DW/BMcC)
Sean O'Brien, 50, of Ballycumber, County Offaly was found guilty on 10 charges in relation to the incident which occurred at the Parkrite Texas Centre, in July 2007.
The court heard how Mr O'Brien landed the helicopter on the roof of the shopping centre in near the town centre of Athlone in County Westmeath so he could collect keys.
O'Brien was also given a six-month suspended prison sentence.
During the hearing, Mr O'Brien admitted to the court he should not have landed in Athlone, or dropped below 1,500ft in a built up area, saying: "I would never do that again."
Solicitor Tom Madden said his client was a man of "no means" who did not own the helicopter and was now on disability.
He claimed to have been applying "completely different" flying instructions acquired in the US.
However, the judge at Athlone District Court asked him: "You are telling me in Florida there are no regulations in relation to landing a helicopter on top of a supermarket."
Although there were 10 separate charges, Judge Anderson said the one overriding charge was that of "dangerous and negligent" use of a helicopter.
The remaining nine charges would be taken into consideration, he added.
(DW/BMcC)
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