O’Dea: Airline’s timing was ‘sneaky’

DEFENCE Minister Willie O’Dea last night accused “sneaky” Aer Lingus bosses of deliberately dropping their Shannon bombshell while the Cabinet was on holiday.

The charge came as Mr O’Dea appeared to be on a collision course with ministerial colleagues over using Government shareholder muscle to force the airline into a humiliating U-turn.

He said the State should wield its 25% “golden stake” in the company at the looming emergency meeting of investors to help retain the lifeline mid-west/Heathrow routes.