THE Fine Gael county councillor, Mr Hugh McElvaney, yesterday issued a statement, apologising profoundly for his disruptive behaviour on an Aer Lingus flight to Boston.
The Monaghan councillor, said his behaviour while on a county council visit to Prince Edward Island in Canada was "very much out of character".
In the written statement, Cllr McElvaney admitted he had been involved in "an incident" while flying to Canada last Wednesday.
I would like to apologise unreservedly for any offence caused by me to my fellow passengers or to Aer Lingus staff on the flight. I regret very much that the incident, which was very much out of character, occurred and caused embarrassment to my fellow councillors on the trip, to Fine Gael and to my family.
"I will be making direct contact with Aer Lingus to convey my personal apologies to its staff and to the passengers on the flight," he added.
It was reported that the councillor was abusive to staff and upset passengers after he was refused drink on a flight to Boston. It was also reported that Cllr McElvaney introduced a fellow councillor to cabin staff as the Taoiseach's wife, Mrs Finola Bruton, and said she would "fix" Aer Lingus and staff on board the flight. He was later cautioned by airport police in Boston.
Cllr McElvaney did not fly home with his colleagues yesterday morning. He had been accompanied on the five day trip by four other councillors and the county secretary.
At Dublin Airport, some of his colleagues said they were embarrassed by Cllr McElvaney's behaviour. The Sinn Fe in councillor, Cllr Brian McKenna, said he tried to restrain the Co Monaghan businessman. The incident was "absolutely embarrassing" and it gave councillors a bad name.
Fianna Fail's Cllr Willie McKenna, however, said be believed the incident was blown out of proportion.
A Fine Gael spokesman said Cllr McElvaney had been in contact with the party. The incident, she said, was "as embarrassing for us as it is for him".