Flying Lawyer
Very interesting - are you able to provide any further details or reference to the case?
I too have been forced to make a diversion to a non-designated field en route from Ireland, but to one which co-incidentally has a Police presence in the form of a helicopter unit. Like your pilots, SB was not really a consideration in the choice of field when faced with rapidly deteriorating weather and continuing to a designated airport was not an option.
So does any pilot who makes such a diversion risk prosecution, or were there other circumstances like a failure to notify the authorities after landing or something that aggravated the case?
David