Ryanair requests High Court to stop pilot claiming victimisation over union

RYANAIR HAS asked the High Court to stop a senior pilot making “scandalous” claims against it in his action alleging he is being victimised and his job threatened through disciplinary charges “utterly contrived” against him because Ryanair regards him as an advocate of the rights of pilots to be represented by a trade union.

Capt John Goss, Yellow Walls Road, Malahide, Co Dublin, is a member of the Irish Association of Airline Pilots (Ialpa), a branch of the trade union Impact. He previously settled High Court proceedings against Ryanair in 2005 over another allegedly bogus disciplinary procedure.

Ryanair, which refuses to deal with Ialpa, has denied the latest disciplinary proceedings against Capt Goss – of 2007 and January 2009 – are contrived or related to his trade union activities.

Martin Hayden, for Ryanair, asked Mr Justice Roderick Murphy yesterday to strike out as “unnecessary” and “scandalous” portions of Captain Goss’s claim, including references to the 2005 settlement. Mr Hayden also asked the judge to strike out references to remarks by the trial judge in separate unsuccessful court proceedings by Ryanair against Ialpa over alleged bullying and intimidation of pilots via pilots’ websites.

Mr Hayden said the previous cases were not relevant to the latest action and Ryanair contended Capt Goss had been afforded fair procedures and natural justice in the latest disciplinary matters.

Roddy Horan, for Capt Goss, opposed the application and said the previous cases were relevant to the latest action and referred to the ongoing conflict about trade union recognition in Ryanair. Mr Justice Murphy said he would rule on the motion tomorrow.

The case arises from disciplinary procedures initiated by Ryanair against Capt Goss in 2007 and 2009 and involving director of personnel Eddie Wilson and Capt David O’Brien, director of flight operations with Ryanair.

Capt Goss was summoned by Ryanair to an “investigative meeting” with Capt O’Brien and Mr Wilson relating to the “unauthorised use” of company post boxes. Capt Goss said he believed the distribution of information about an Employee Representative Committee meeting was company business. He was later suspended without pay for 14 days.