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Pub used as courtroom to fine Ralph Lauren's niece

Dublin - The niece of fashion designer Ralph Lauren was fined in Ireland on Wednesday for being drunk and abusive on a plane, after a hearing that had to be held in a pub because there was no court nearby.

Jennifer Lauren, 41, was fined €2 000 for being drunk onboard the flight from Barcelona to New York on Monday and launching a foul-mouthed tirade at an air hostess. The flight had to be diverted to Shannon airport in western Ireland.

She was sentenced in the nearest district court but had appeared before a judge on Tuesday in the unlikely setting of a pub in the village of Killaloe, as the immediate local area has no courtroom.

Lauren, a US citizen who runs a high-end jewellery business, pleaded guilty to breaching the peace and being drunk on board the Delta Air Lines plane.

When she was arrested at the airport, she reportedly did not understand the Irish police officer and asked him: "Can you say that in English please?"

Judge Patrick Durcan said he accepted that Lauren's behaviour was entirely out of character but said he had to also recognise the upset and disruption that had been caused.

The diversion cost Delta $43 158, the court heard. The flight, with over 200 passengers onboard, later continued its journey to New York.

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