Airline worker racially abused by passenger making ‘monkey noises’ had to change her job

AN AIRLINE worker had to change her job after a passenger racially abused her and made “monkey noises” at her as he was about to board a plane.

Maksymilian Lesniak (34) was at the departure gates at Dublin Airport when he told the Ryanair employee “go back to Africa” and asked her if she “wanted a banana”.

A judge told him today his language was “entirely inappropriate” but she would spare him a criminal record if he paid €500 in compensation.

Lesniak, a chef of Ardeen, Lisdoonvarna, Co Clare, pleaded guilty to threatening, abusive and insulting behaviour at the airport on April 27 last year.

He entered his plea last month and the case came back before Dublin District Court today for a victim impact statement. Although the charge was a public order offence, Judge Treasa Kelly had said she wanted to hear from the woman before finalising the case.

“The language you used was entirely inappropriate,” Judge Kelly told Lesniak after reading the woman’s statement.

“The injured party found it very aggressive towards her and it’s had consequences for her, she had to change her job as a result of the abuse she got from you that day.”

The court had heard Lesniak had been at the gates in Terminal 1 when he abused the woman, who is black.

“He said go back to Africa, made monkey noises and asked her if she wanted a banana,” a garda sergeant told the court.

She made a complaint and airport police were contacted.

On the day, Lesniak, who has been in Ireland for five years, was returning to Poland for the first time in a long time and had too much to drink, his solicitor Daniel Hanahoe said.

There was a confrontation because the gate had been changed at the last minute and Lesniak was attempting to get to the new gate, Mr Hanahoe said.

“He accepts the language he used was extremely distasteful,” the solicitor said. “He doesn’t necessarily accept all the language alleged.”

However, Lesniak was admitting the offence and accepted he behaved inappropriately, Mr Hanahoe added.

Judge Kelly said it was “no excuse” that Lesniak had too much to drink and told him “you must have respect for people doing these jobs.”

“You’re 34 years of age, you should have conducted yourself in a better manner,” the judge told Lesniak.

Adjourning the case to May 22, she said she would apply the Probation Act if the €500 payment was made.

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