A solicitor representing Ryanair was forced to apologise yesterday after a judge warned him that his remarks amounted to contempt of court.
The solicitor, Mr Peter Lennon, regularly defends the budget airline in court cases taken by disgruntled passengers, had accused the judge of never believing that Ryanair acted reasonably.
He immediately apologised for his remark but Judge Clare Leonard refused to accept it saying: "I do not consider it useful to go along the judicial route of contempt of court which would place you in prison and I don't think there is anything to be gained by that, but I will be taking a different route."
The comments arose in the Dublin Small Claims Court during a case taken by a British passenger over what he said was Ryanair's failure to provide an advertised through-service from London to Copenhagen last February.
The court heard that Warwick Hirst, from Newmarket, had booked a flight after seeing an advertisement for £29 each way for flights from Stansted to Copenhagen. In smaller print, the ad stated the trip was "via Malmo" and that it would cost an extra £8 for a coach from Malmo to Copenhagen.
On the return leg of the journey, a snowstorm closed the bridge between Denmark and Sweden and the coach was delayed for several hours causing Mr Hirst to miss his flight. He had to pay an extra £115 for a new flight after Ryanair told him they had no liability for what happened with the coach.
Judge Leonard said it was down to whether Ryanair "behaved reasonably." Mr Lennon: "You never believe Ryanair behaves reasonably." Judge Leonard: "That is a completely unwarranted remark to make. I have found for and against Ryanair and that amounts to a contempt of court."
She said she was going to rise for a few minutes. When the court resumed, she awarded Mr Hirst the cost of his new flight stating that because the contract was silent in relation to the conditions of the coach service, the court had to fall back on whether Ryanair had behaved reasonably. She did not think they had in this case and she awarded Mr Hirst his full claim of €186.