Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary has apologised for wrongly describing a trade union official as a “failed Aer Lingus pilot” during a TV programme.
The apology formed part of a settlement of a High Court action against him by Irish Air Line Pilots Association (IALPA) president, Captain Evan Cullen.
Mr Cullen had sued Mr O'Leary for defamation over the remark made on an RTÉ Prime Time programme on September 12th, 2006.
The programme began with a report of interviews with a number of people alleging Ryanair’s rosters were leading to fatigue among pilots. A studio debate between Mr Cullen and Mr O’Leary followed in which the Ryanair boss denied claims made in the report.
After presenter Miriam O’Callaghan had said: “We’ll leave it there”, Mr O’Leary had added: “More scare stories from a failed Aer Lingus pilot.”
Mr Cullen's action had opened before Ms Justice Elizabeth Dunne and a jury in July last year. It was halted after the court heard the defamatory remark had been re-broadcast on the internet and on the Pat Kenny Show but this information had not been included in the original statement of claim.
Ms Justice Dunne said this information about the re-broadcasting was "landed on front of a jury in a way that seems to be unjustified" and, in those circumstances, she had to discharge the jury.
The case was listed for hearing again today but Mr Justice Eamon de Valera was told the matter had been settled and an apology by Mr O'Leary, who was not in court, could be read out.
In the apology, which was read out read by Martin Hayden SC, for Mr O’Leary, the Ryanair boss said he had a “robust” debate on the programme, at the end of which he made the comment about Mr Cullen.
"In doing so I may have given the impression to members of the public that Mr Cullen had ceased to be an Aer Lingus pilot or that he lacked the capacity or the necessary licences to hold that position,” Mr O’Leary said.
“This was untrue. This was not the meaning I intended. I intended to refer to Mr Cullen’s efforts to secure recognition for IALPA by Ryanair. I recognise that I did not make this clear,” he added.
“I wish to apologise unreservedly if my remarks caused Mr Cullen embarrassment or have damaged his professional reputation in the eyes of viewers of the programme in question. I accept that Mr Cullen has an excellent flying record and is qualified in every respect to carry out his duties as a commercial pilot.”
Mr O’Leary said he had agreed to make a contribution to two charities by Mr Cullen.
In his action, Mr Cullen claimed the "failed pilot" remark meant he was not competent to fly an aeroplane and that he had ceased flying although he was still a highly-regarded pilot working in Aer Lingus. He said the remark had caused damage to his reputation both in his community and among his work colleagues.
He also said he had brought the legal action after Mr O'Leary refused to publish a draft apology prepared by Mr Cullen's lawyers.
Mr O'Leary had argued the words actually meant Mr Cullen had failed in a long-running campaign by IALPA to get Ryanair's pilots unionised. He also claimed the words were mere vulgar abuse not spoken maliciously and spoken in jest.
In a statement today, Mr Cullen said the remarks had caused "considerable upset to both himself and his family". He said he was pleased his "good name and reputation as a pilot" has been fully vindicated.
He said Mr O'Leary would make donations to two "worthy organisations" in his local community of Roundwood, Co Wicklow. These are St Laurence O’Toole National School and the St Laurence O’Toole Parish Hall.