The threat of jail which had hung for the past two weeks over Ryanair’s chief executive Michael O’Leary and two of the company’s senior executives has been lifted by the High Court.
In light of the settlement earlier this week of proceedings brought by a Ryanair pilot, Captain John Goss, against the airline, Justice Barry White today acceded to a request from lawyers for Mr O’Leary and for Captain Goss not to deliver judgment in contempt proceedings which he had heard last month.
The judge had deferred giving a decision on those contempt proceedings pending the outcome of a challenge by Captain Goss to a disciplinary procedure brought against him. That challenge was heard by Mr justice Budd and settled last Wednesday.
The contempt proceedings were against Ryanair, Mr O’Leary, the head of Ryanair flight operations, Mr David O’Brien, and Ryanair chief pilot Ray Conway. In the contempt proceedings, Captain Goss had claimed the company and the three named executives were in contempt of a High Court order made by Mr Justice White requiring Ryanair to restore Captain Goss to flying duties.
When the contempt matter was before Mr Justice White, Mr Richard Nesbitt SC, for the Ryanair defendants, handed in the terms of settlement in the proceedings settled on Wednesday.
The terms contained an agreement by Captain Goss that motions for attachment, committal and sequestration of Ryanair’s assets on grounds of alleged contempt should be struck out with no order.
Mr Justice White said that, had he come to the conclusion there had been a serious contempt, he would not agree to the application not to give judgment. The judge said he had concluded it had been appropriate for Captain Goss to bring the matter to the court’s attention.
However, the judge said, he had not concluded there had been a contempt of court and in the circumstances he would accede to the application.