Four pull out of case against Ryanair

FOUR witnesses who were to give evidence in support of a former Ryanair air hostess in an unfair dismissal claim have suddenly indicated they will not attend the Employment Appeals Tribunal.

An EAT hearing in Dublin was told yesterday the four people, all ex-employees of Ryanair, have now decided not to attend as witnesses in the case.

A former senior cabin crew attendant, Vanessa Redmond, was sacked by the airline in May 2005 for alleged gross misconduct, including sleeping on the job and compromising passenger safety.

No explanation was given as to why the four potential witnesses no longer wish to give evidence.

SIPTU official Dermot O’Loughlin, on behalf of Ms Redmond, said they had only learnt last Friday that the witnesses had decided not to attend the hearing.

However, the Tribunal agreed to issue a subpoena to compel the four witnesses to give evidence at Mr O’Loughlin’s request.

Meanwhile, yesterday’s hearing was dominated by procedural issues after the EAT was told a key witness in Ryanair’s case had emigrated to Australia.

Lawyers for the airline are due to make an application later today to allow the taking of evidence via video link from Matt Sheperd, who was a passenger on board a Ryanair flight from Dublin to Durham on May 19, 2005.

EAT chairman Eoin Martin said it was unfortunate that Ryanair’s solicitor, Killian O’Reilly, had previously led evidence of another witness which should not have been heard before the testimony of Mr Sheperd.

He said the taking of evidence via video link was the least satisfactory option and warned Ryanair the weight which the EAT would attach to Mr Sheperd’s testimony would be less than if he physically attended the hearing.

Mr O’Reilly said the option of having the EAT sit in either Perth, Australia or somewhere halfway like Dubai was not feasible as the costs would have to be met by the airline.

Last April, the EAT heard from Ryanair’s European base manager, Samantha Clark, that she had heard from Mr Sheperd’s partner — who works with Ryanair — that he had raised concerns about a cabin crew member named Vanessa on his flight.

Ryanair subsequently fired Ms Redmond after claiming she had blocked off the front row of seats on the aircraft in order to sit down and read a book before falling asleep.

Ms Redmond, who comes from Dublin, denies all the allegations except one where she admits closing off the row of seats.