EU ruling on Ryanair - O’Leary’s gallop needed to be halted

ACCUSTOMED to getting his own way in things, Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary will find it hard to swallow the European Commission’s decision to block his takeover of Aer Lingus.

Ironically, its ruling against the €1.4bn bid by Europe’s biggest budget airline is grounded on maintaining competition in the industry and avoiding a monopoly situation.

Doubtless, aggressive lobbying by the Government against the Ryanair tender was a significant factor. As shareholders in the airline, the Government and workforce bitterly opposed the predatory swoop barely two weeks after the State-owned company was privatised.