A woman accused of being drunk on a holiday jet, diverted following an alleged air rage incident, was yesterday found not guilty.
After deliberating for five and a half hours, a jury sitting at Hove Crown Court acquitted Ms Elizabeth O'Driscoll (34) of Lewisham, south-east London.
Ms O'Driscoll walked from the court to the cheers of more than 30 family and friends who had filled the courtroom gallery.
The mother-of-four declined to comment on the verdict.
The jury was sent home by Judge Austin Issard-Davies after failing to reach verdicts on two other defendants.
Mr Francis Coyle (40) and Mr Patrick Connors (36), both of Lewisham, deny affray and endangering the safety of a plane while flying to Montego Bay on January 31st last year.
The defendants were among a party of 12 travelling with Airtours to Jamaica. The packed Boeing 767 had to be diverted when, the prosecution claims, Mr Coyle and Mr Connors tried to fight with a Jamaican passenger.
During her 15-day trial, Ms O'Driscoll, one of six women in the party, said she was "just enjoying a sing-song" on board the packed Boeing 767. She told the court how she was "over-excited" about her first-ever holiday.
Ms O'Driscoll said she had three and a half cans of lager during the entire flight.
She admitted singing with two of her sisters but said she slept through the alleged incident and denied being drunk.
The case against Mr Connors and Mr Coyle was adjourned until tomorrow when the jury will continue its deliberations.