Probation term for air rage

The father-of-two had lit a cigarette in the plane's toilet

A County Tyrone man has been fined £300 and given a 12-month probation term after assaulting a police officer on board a plane.

The police were called after George Anthony McCartney of Campsie Road in Omagh was caught smoking on the plane.

The father-of-two had lit a cigarette in the plane's toilet on a flight from London Stansted to Belfast International Airport.

On arrival in Belfast, the police boarded the plane and said to McCartney that he had been smoking, to which he replied: "So what."

He then lunged forward and tried to bite the officer.

The 44-year-old also threatened the officers on board.

McCartney's defence counsel told the court his client had had problems with authority since he caused the accidental death of his best friend on a building site in 1994.