Ryanair receives apology for two Irish Examiner articles
By Ann O'Loughlin
Ryanair has received an apology in the High Court over two Irish Examiner articles published more than three years ago.
The airline's defamation action was over a front page article headlined: "Ryanair contract practice a threat to safety" and over a further article entitled "'Bogus contracts' blamed for pilot fatigue and safety fears".
Both were published on May 8, 2015, in the newspaper and online. Both articles were also promoted on Twitter.
In an apology read out today (Tuesday) by Eoin McCullough SC, for the Irish Examiner and Ann Cahill, he said the Irish Examiner acknowledges Ryanair's industry leading safety record and the Irish Aviation Authority's independent confirmation that Ryanair "fully complies with all European and international regulations in all of its operations" and the confirmation that the airline's safety standards are "on a par with the safest airlines in Europe".
Mr McCullough said the Examiner apologised to Ryanair for the damage caused by the publication of the articles. The paper has agreed to make a donation to a charity of Ryanair's choice, the Jack and Jill Children's Foundation, the apology stated.
Jenny Goode BL, for Ryanair, said the case could be settled and struck out. Mr Justice Bernard Barton struck out the case.
Afterwards, solicitor for Ryanair, Paul Tweed, said his client was very satisfied with the "total vindication they have received following the comprehensive retraction and apology announced before the court his morning, together with the defendants' acknowledgement of their unsurpassed safety record spanning three decades".
