A man has been convicted of attempting to sexually assault a girl under 13 on an EasyJet flight from Paris to Belfast International Airport. Ramiz Idrizi, 28, of Woodvale Avenue in Dublin, was found guilty at Ballymena Magistrates Court of attempted sexual assault of a child, assault by beating a male passenger, being drunk on an aircraft, and using abusive language towards cabin crew.
The court heard that during the four-hour flight on November 14 last year, Idrizi consumed most of five small wine bottles he had purchased. Around 30 minutes before landing, the girl's mother reported that Idrizi was kicking her seat. He then declared “I’m horny” and reached between the fuselage and the seat, attempting to touch the girl's leg, causing her to jump up.
A male passenger in the same row saw “a flash of a hand” near the child's seat and offered to swap seats. When he confronted Idrizi, the defendant responded with abusive language, calling the passenger's mother a “slut.” Witnesses also reported that Idrizi had been “hacking up phlegm,” spitting, and talking to himself before the incident.
Cabin crew intervened, stopping alcohol service and asking Idrizi to hand over his remaining wine and move seats. He refused, and other passengers were moved instead. As the plane was landing, Idrizi was seen punching the fuselage wall.
In his defence, Idrizi admitted being intoxicated and using abusive language but denied attempting to touch the girl, claiming he only grabbed her seat to steady himself. District Judge Nigel Broderick rejected this, stating that witnesses gave “credible and reliable evidence.” Idrizi was cleared of one count of assaulting a woman. He was released on bail, and the case will be dealt with on April 28.
