Ryanair boss apologises for ‘failed pilot’ remark

RYANAIR boss Michael O’Leary has apologised for wrongly describing a trade union officer on a TV programme as a “failed Aer Lingus pilot”, as part of a High Court settlement of a defamation action.

Irish Air Line Pilots Association (IALPA) president Evan Cullen sued Mr O’Leary over the remark made on an RTÉ Prime Time programme on September 12, 2006.

In his apology yesterday, Mr O’Leary, who was not in court, agreed to pay Mr Cullen’s legal costs and to contribute to charities nominated by him.

Mr Cullen’s action got underway before a judge and jury in July last year but was stopped after the court heard the defamatory remark had been re-broadcast on the internet and the Pat Kenny Show and this had not been included in the original statement of claim.

The judge in the case felt the information about the re-broadcasting had been “landed in front of a jury in a way that seems to be unjustified” and she, therefore, felt she had to discharge the jury.

Yesterday, the case was listed for re-hearing before a new jury and Mr Justice Éamon de Valera, who was told the matter had been settled and an apology by Mr O’Leary could be read out.

In the apology, read by Martin Hayden SC, for Mr O’Leary, it stated the “failed pilot” remark may have given the impression to the public that Mr Cullen had ceased to be an Aer Lingus pilot or that he lacked the capacity or necessary licences to hold that position.

“That was untrue and was not the meaning I intended,” Mr O’Leary said. “I intended to refer to Mr Cullen’s efforts to secure recognition for IALPA by Ryanair. I recognise I did not make this clear.”

Mr O’Leary said he wished to “apologise unreservedly if my remarks caused Mr Cullen embarrassment or have damaged his professional reputation in the eyes of viewers of the programme.”