Davison sues over claims of ‘racism’

MODEL and former Miss World Rosanna Davison has sued Ryanair for damages, alleging that a news release posted on the airline’s website implied she was racist, xenophobic and jealous.

The news release was posted on November 11, 2008, in reaction to remarks by Ms Davison relating to the absence of any Irish female cabin crew from a Ryanair charity calendar for 2009. The calendar featured international female cabin crew in bikinis under titles such as Miss Cockpit and Miss Fuel Pump.

Ms Davison was contacted by a journalist the same day and asked what she thought about the absence of any Irish female cabin crew in the calendar.

The next day, she was reported as saying: “If I was [organising] it, I would have made sure that Irish women were involved because it’s an Irish charity and Irish fundraising. Any person from any part of Europe would say that Irish women are gorgeous.”

The High Court heard yesterday that Ryanair then launched “an attack” the same day on Ms Davison via a news release published on its website which contained “very serious charges”.

It was Ms Davison’s case that release meant she was racist, xenophobic and jealous. She was deeply offended by it, regarded her reputation as very damaged and was seeking damages.

Ryanair denies the release contains the alleged meaning, pleading it was fair comment on matters of public interest. It remained on its website yesterday.

The action by Ms Davison, aged 27, a model and newspaper columnist, with an address at Cornelscourt, Dublin, opened yesterday before Mr Justice Éamon de Valera and a jury and is listed for three days.

Opening the case, Jim O’Callaghan SC, with Declan Doyle SC, for Ms Davison, said it arose after Ryanair on November 10, 2008, published the 2009 charity calendar. There was no issue about the calendar, in aid of Dublin Simon Community, he said.

Counsel read the release, which said: “Ryanair today hit back at comments made by Irish glamour model Rosanna Davison in relation to the absence of Irish cabin crew from Ryanair’s 2009 charity calendar which bordered on racism and demonstrated an elitist attitude against Ryanair’s international cabin crew.

“Ryanair confirmed all cabin crew were invited to apply for the calendar and that while only a small number of Irish staff applied, one Irish girl was invited to participate but was unavailable to do so.

Ryanair’s Stephen McNamara said: “There is nothing more unattractive than jealousy. We cannot believe that Ireland’s former Miss World would engage in such narrow-minded remarks about a calendar which will raise money for charity. We conducted a fair and unbiased selection process for our calendar participants and for our charity partner which was based on the strongest applications received.”

Ms Davison’s solicitor Paul Tweed wrote to Ryanair looking for an apology and donation to charity. Ms Davison felt Ryanair’s replies to her solicitor’s “reasonable” letters was aggressive. Ryanair’s description of her comments as “stupid” and “ill-considered” were “incredibly juvenile”, “down-right rude” and “schoolyard talk”, she said.

The case resumes on Tuesday.