Ryanair settles High Court action against newspaper

A High Court action brought by Ryanair alleging defamation over an article published in the Daily Mirror related to the airline and safety has been settled.

Jim O'Callaghan SC, for Ryanair, told Mr Justice Sean Ryan today the action was brought arising from an article published in the Daily Mirror on August 12th last concerning safety standards at the airline.

Counsel said the case had settled and, as part of the settlement,  a solicitor for MGN Ltd, publishers of the Daily Mirror, would read a statment in open court.

The statement said: “On Monday, August 12, in connection to a Channel 4 Dispatches documentary scheduled to be broadcast that evening, we reported that, according to a survey, ‘most  Ryanair pilots have serious concerns about passenger safety’.

“We acknowledge the Irish Aviation Authority’s independent confirmation, on 15 August, that Ryanair ‘fully complied with all European and international regulations in all of its operations’ and the previous confirmation given on September 18, 2012, of Ryanair’s safety standards being ‘on a par with the safest airlines in Europe’.”

After the statement was read, Mr O’Callaghan said the matter could be struck out and the judge made that order.