Rhys Meyers' Boozy Reprieve

"Tudors" star let off with a caution after issuing apology for alcohol-induced airport arrest

By Gina Serpe Dec 05, 2007 5:36 PMTags

Talk about the luck of the Irish.

Dublin prosecutors dropped all charges against Jonathan Rhys Meyers stemming from the Tudors star's arrest in the city's airport last month, letting the local boy off the hook with little more than a caution.

The 30-year-old actor was busted on two charges of public drunkenness and breach of peace Nov. 18 for threatening and abusive conduct against airport workers while waiting for a flight back to London.

On Tuesday, an attorney for the Director of Public Prosecutions told Dublin District Judge Angela Ni Chonduin that the state did not wish to proceed with charges against the actor, but would instead mete out justice through the court's Adult Caution Scheme.

In a hearing in Dublin court Wednesday morning, for which Rhys Meyers was not present, the actor's attorney apologized for the once-rehabbed star's behavior, saying his actions were completely out of character.

"My client, nonetheless, instructed me to say he absolutely accepts his behavior was unacceptable and out of character," attorney Michael Staines said in court. "He unreservedly apologizes, in particular, to British Midland staff, to security staff and gardai."

Gardai is the official name of the police force of the Republic of Ireland. Rhys Meyers was visiting the country to promote his latest flick, August Rush.

Nonetheless, the actor didn't get completely off the hook. Rhys Meyers was slapped with a legal caution, a probationary action, which could result in charges further down the line should he again find himself on the wrong side of the law.

In a move designed to further prove his repentance over the incident, Staines said Meyers would be making a voluntary donation to an unnamed charity.

While his attorney expressed remorse for the actor's outburst, Staines did not offer an explanation. However, Rhys Meyers' mother, Geraldine Meyers O'Keefe, was extremely ill at the time and died just three days later. The cause of her death has not been disclosed.

The funeral service was held in Cork two weeks ago and brought out hundreds of fellow mourners, including Colin Farrell and director Neil Jordan.

Rhys Meyers is currently back in Ireland filming the second season of Showtime's The Tudors.