Irish lotto winner was taken into Maltese custody after being ‘aggressive’ on Ryanair flight

Irish lottery winner Margaret Laughrey was taken into Maltese police custody when the captain of a Ryanair flight called the police landing at Malta International Airport to extract an “aggressive and disruptive passenger” last December,

Laughrey, who is from Strabane in Co Tyrone and who won €31 million in the Euro Millions draw in 2013, denied being “aggressive and disruptive” but blamed the incident on low blood sugar levels which resulted in her being taken to hospital.

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Home Affairs and National Security confirmed the incident to the Irish press

“On 22 December 2017, the captain of a Ryanair flight from Belfast to Malta requested police assistance after a female passenger became disruptive and aggressive,” she said.

“This woman, who turned out to be an Irish national, was taken into police custody and later referred for medical assistance. Please also note that the woman is no longer in custody.”

A spokesperson for Ryanair said that Laughrey was now banned from all its future flights.

“This passenger has been banned from flying with Ryanair again and this is now a matter for local police.”

She was not charged and was sent to hospital for glucose deficiency and reportedly returned to Ireland via Ryanair, despite the apparent ban.

Margaret Laughrey