The 58-year-old farmer pleaded guilty when arraigned on two counts of sexual assault contrary to section 2 of the Criminal Law (Rape) Amendment Act on 15 November 2023.
The court heard Aer Lingus cabin crew alerted the captain after a teenage girl sitting beside him reported inappropriate touching, and the Boston-bound flight was turned back to Shannon Airport.
Noone, of Curragh, Kilconnell, Ballinasloe, Co Galway, admitted sexually assaulting the then 16-year-old by rubbing and grabbing her buttocks on board the E1135 flight within the jurisdiction of the Irish state.
He also pleaded guilty to kissing her arm and rubbing her thigh during the same flight.
Counsel for Noone, barrister Antoinette Simon, told the court her client is a self-employed farmer with no previous convictions and sought a probation report ahead of sentencing.
Judge Francis Comerford granted the request and directed gardaí to seek a victim impact statement from the complainant, who has not been connected to Noone in any other way.
Counsel for the state, barrister Sarah Jane Comerford, said the guilty plea was offered more than two weeks earlier, which helped because US-based witnesses were lined up to give evidence by video link.
In December, the judge permitted four prosecution witnesses to give evidence from the US, including the complainant, now 18, who is studying at a US college.
Garda, detective Ruth O’Sullivan, previously told the court the cost to Aer Lingus of returning the aircraft to Shannon was €28,213. Det Garda O’Sullivan said: “They then informed the captain, who made a decision to turn the flight back to Shannon.”
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