A vodka-swigging easyJet passenger who hurled a homophobic slur at a bisexual cabin crew member has claimed he was unaware the term was considered offensive in modern times.
Incident on board
Sean Falvey, 59, from Chadderton in Oldham, consumed duty-free spirits during a flight from Barcelona to Manchester. As the aircraft descended, a flight attendant asked him to fasten his seatbelt. In response, Falvey remarked, “people like you,” and added, “Don’t be a p**f. We are getting home, we are going home.”
Arrest and further abuse
Police met the plane upon landing. While being taken into custody, Falvey denied being “inherently racist or homophobic.” However, he proceeded to call the arresting officers “gay boys” and referred to the Stockport village in Cheadle, where the police station is located, as a “place where P***s live.”
The cabin crew member, who is bisexual, stated: “I take the comment as being homophobic. As a bisexual man I should never be subjected to this. I have never been subject to this kind of homophobic abuse on any flight since working with easyJet.”
Falvey later claimed he did not know the slur was offensive in this day and age.
