'Tipsy' socialite cleared of being drunk on flight.A SOCIALITE accused of letting a stranger fondle fon·dle v. fon·dled, fon·dling, fon·dles v.tr. 1. To handle, stroke, or caress lovingly. See Synonyms at caress. 2. Obsolete To treat with indulgence and solicitude; pamper. her breasts during a flight was yesterday cleared of being drunk on board an aircraft. Clare Irby, a descendant of the Guinness brewing family, was accused of drinking up to 12 glasses of red wine on the flight from Bangalore, India, to London's Heathrow Airport on March 26. But the jury of eight men and four women at Isleworth Crown Court, west London West London is the area of Greater London to the west of Central London. Although it is only ambiguously defined, it is one of the most economically active areas of London outside of the centre, containing significant amounts of office space along with Heathrow Airport and many of , took just 40 minutes to unanimously find her not guilty of being drunk on board an aircraft. Miss Irby, 30, of Fulham, west London, smiled and looked at the ceiling as the jury foreman read out the verdict. She stood in the dock fighting back tears before putting her hand on her chest and later wiping tears from her face. During the three-day trial, mother-of-one Irby denied being drunk, saying she was suffering from sleep deprivation sleep deprivation Sleep disorders A prolonged period without the usual amount of sleep. See Driver fatigue, Poor sleeping hygiene, Sleep disorders, Sleep-onset insomnia. after having had only two and a half hours' sleep in 48 hours. She said she had only drunk "four or five" glasses of wine and was "tipsy" but not drunk and had full control of her faculties. Miss Irby mouthed "Oh my God'' to her mother, Emma, who was sitting in the public gallery to the side of the court when she was acquitted. Her mother said: "It's great. I can't believe it." Irby denied letting fellow passenger Daniel Melia, 36, touch her breast, and said she did not strip to her knickers in order to change from her yellow skirt into black leggings leg·ging n. 1. A leg covering usually extending from the ankle to the knee and often made of material such as leather or canvas, worn especially by soldiers and workers. 2. leggings a. . "He didn't touch me in any inappropriate manner. He didn't touch my breasts," she said. CAPTION(S): Clare Irby - cleared by jury She stood in the dock |
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