Ryanair apologises to Corkman it accepts was wrongly banned from flying with airline
Ryanair said complainant had been 'mistakenly identified' as a disruptive passenger alleged to have been involved in an altercation with the airline's staff, which required the assistance of airport police on January 2 last. File picture: Larry Cummins
Ryanair has "sincerely and unreservedly apologised" before the High Court to a Cork quantity surveyor who claimed he had been wrongly banned from flying with the airline.
Eoin Michael Cahill sued the airline, which, he claimed, had defamed him after it wrongly accused him of engaging in alleged disruptive behaviour on a date earlier this year when he neither travelled on a Ryanair flight nor was he present at Dublin Airport.
He also claimed he had been defamed by Ryanair after it wrote to his employer informing it of the ban.
On Tuesday, Mr Justice Rory Mulcahy was informed Ryanair wished to apologised to Mr Cahill and the flight ban that was "incorrectly imposed" on him "has been withdrawn."
The airline said Mr Cahill had been "mistakenly identified" as a disruptive passenger alleged to have been involved in an altercation with the airline's staff, which required the assistance of airport police on January 2 last.
The airline, represented by Martin Hayden SC, said it accepted Mr Cahill was not this passenger, had offered to make amends to Mr Cahill and to correct the record with his employer.
It has offered to write a letter to his employer stating the message it sent to Mr Cahill's employers was inaccurate and all the allegations it made against him were "fully withdrawn."
It has also offered to pay Mr Cahill €10,000 compensation plus his legal costs as may be agreed.
In his action, Mr Cahill said he was employed by the Jones Engineering Group, and is currently working on a project in Copenhagen, Denmark.
He claimed the flights he takes between Denmark and Ireland are purchased by his employer.
He was due to fly with Ryanair from Dublin to Copenhagen on January 2, but after extending his leave he did not travel on that date.
The following day, on January 3 last, he claims he was defamed in an email sent to his employer by Ryanair's customer services.
The email, he claimed, contained a false and untenable allegation he was "disruptive" on his journey through Dublin Airport and that he was prohibited from flying with Ryanair again.
He claimed what had happened to him would have disastrous implications on his professional reputation, especially as he has to travel to Denmark as part of his job.
Represented by Paul O'Higgins SC, instructed by solicitor CW Ashe and Company, Mr Cahill brought proceedings seeking an injunction requiring Ryanair to correct the record with his employer, and to lift the travel ban placed on him.
In his proceedings against both Ryanair DAC and Ryanair Holdings PLC, Mr Cahill, with an address at Killarney Road, Macroom, Co Cork, also sought damages, including aggravated damages for the alleged defamation.
In correspondence with Mr Cahill, the airline also said it had asked for time to complete an investigation into the allegations before seeking an injunction late last month against Ryanair.
It claimed Mr Cahill had not given the airline ample time to fully investigate the matter, and disputed his claims the matter was urgent.
While it accepted Mr Cahill's annoyance and upset, the airline said it takes the issue of disruptive passengers very seriously given the impact such incidents have on passengers and staff.
Mr Cahill's lawyers rejected Ryanair's arguments and said the airline had ample time to address his complaints, but had failed to do so.
Ryanair had known about his complaints about the ban and the message to his employer since early January, and had not addressed his concerns, Mr Cahill's lawyers submitted.
After hearing argument from both sides, Mr Justice Mulcahy agreed the airline had known about Mr Cahill's complaint for some time before it completed its investigation and said Mr Cahill was entitled to his legal costs of the injunction proceedings against the defendants.
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