Courts

Dolores O’Riordan air rage case with flight attendant settles

Late rock star alleged to have stamped on foot of flight attendant

No money was paid in relation to Ms Coyne’s claim for loss of earnings. Photograph: Eric Luke/The Irish Times

Wed Nov 22 2023 - 14:22

A High Court action over an alleged air rage incident involving the late singer Dolores O’Riordan has been settled.

Mr Justice Tony O’Connor was informed of the settlement on Wednesday in the personal injuries case brought by flight attendant Carmel Coyne against the estate of the Cranberries’ lead singer.

Declan Doyle, for Ms Coyne, asked that the case be struck out. He also said no money was paid in relation to Ms Coyne’s claim for loss of earnings.

Henry Downing, for the defendants, said the case was being struck out without admission of liability.

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Ms Coyne, of Cappagh Road, Galway, sued the singer in 2017 over the November 11th, 2014, incident when Ms O’Riordan (46) allegedly stamped on the Aer Lingus flight attendant’s foot during an incident aboard a New York-Shannon flight.

In a defence delivered in July 2017, Ms O’Riordan, a mother of three, denied the claims.

Nearly six months later, on January 15th, 2018, Ms O’Riordan was found dead in a bath in a hotel room in London. An inquest later concluded she drowned in the bath while intoxicated with alcohol.

Ms Coyne’s lawyers later applied to the High Court to replace Ms O’Riordan’s name in the title of the case with that of the personal representatives – Peter J O’Riordan, of Friarstown, Grange, Kilmallock, Limerick and Nollaig Hogan, Riverview Heights, Cahara, Glin, Co Limerick. The personal representatives consented to the order.

Ms Coyne claimed damages for alleged assault, battery, false imprisonment and for breach of Ms Coyne’s right to privacy and right to earn a living. The defendants denied the claims.

The case had been set down for a jury hearing following a legal wrangle earlier this month about whether it should be heard in the High Court or the Circuit Court where awards are lower.

Mr Justice O’Connor ruled it should be heard in the High Court.

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