Man fined for landing helicopter on shopping centre
Mr O'Brien landed the helicopter on the shopping centre roof (picture by James Flynn)
A man who landed a helicopter on the roof of a shopping centre in Athlone, County Westmeath, so he could collect keys, has been fined 5,000 euros.
Sean O'Brien, 50, of Ballycumber, County Offaly, was convicted on 10 charges relating to the incident at the Parkrite Texas Centre, in July 2007.
As well as the fine, he was given a six-month suspended prison sentence.
He claimed to have been applying "completely different" flying instructions acquired in the US.
However, the judge at Athlone District Court asked him: "You are telling me in Florida there are no regulations in relation to landing a helicopter on top of a supermarket."
Although there were 10 separate charges, Judge Anderson said the one overriding charge was that of "dangerous and negligent" use of a helicopter.
The remaining nine charges would be taken into consideration, he added.
'Never again'
Admitting he should not have landed in Athlone, or dropped below 1,500ft in a built up area, Mr O'Brien said: "I would never do that again."
He described his own actions as dangerous due to the lack of a designated landing area on the roof of the shopping centre.
But Judge David Anderson said: "Mr O'Brien still doesn't understand why he shouldn't land on a supermarket."
Had there been an accident, people could have been 'toasted' in a serious fire, he added.
"The defendant now displays no grasp whatsoever of the rules, common sense, that is where he has difficulty," the judge said.
Solicitor Tom Madden said his client was a man of "no means" who did not own the helicopter and is now on disability.