Labour ruling against Ryanair adds fuel to EU directive debate

A COURT ruling on Monday, ordering Ryanair to pay compensation to three Belgian flight attendants, is being used by both opponents and supporters of the controversial EU draft Services Directive.

Ryanair, which may appeal the verdict, claimed that because the three Belgian cabin staff had signed contracts in Dublin based on Irish law, then they were entitled to fire them under Irish legislation.

The three, Steve Dewilde, Anne Legros and Magali Warbecq, were fired in April 2002 after a year working for Ryanair, "because they did not match the profile", according to reports.