‘Racist rant’ passenger should go to prison, says a relative
A PENSIONER filmed hurling racist abuse at a fellow Ryanair passenger was disowned by friends and family last night as he was questioned by police for the first time.
David Mesher, a former railway worker, has been identified as the man who allegedly called elderly widow Delsie Gayle an “ugly black b------” during a confrontation that caused widespread outrage.
Police visited the 75-year-old at his home in Birmingham last night, where he lives alone. Officers spent just under an hour at the sheltered housing flat.
Before his retirement, Mr Mesher is understood to have worked as a train announcer for London Midland Railways, and as a booking clerk at Waterloo station. He has never married, and lived with his elderly mother until her death in the late Eighties.
Last night a relative, who did not want to be named, said Mr Mesher should be sent to prison if found to have committed a crime.
“I saw that video and I would have stepped in to help that woman,” he said. “Someone on that plane should have done something. I don’t care if he’s blood. He should be put in a Spanish jail, I reckon.”
However, a former colleague said Mr Mesher’s outburst was out of character for the man he knew.
“David worshipped his elderly mother, so he was always respectful and polite to older people,” the former railway worker said. “I can’t understand why he’s done this.”
It came as Barcelona city council said it would report the incident as a possible hate crime.
Ryanair has been criticised for its handling of the incident as Mr Mesher was not removed from the flight. Instead, Mrs Gayle was moved to another aisle while Mr Mesher was allowed to remain in his seat.