Ryanair’s long-running defamation case against one of its former long-serving pilots should be joined to similar court proceedings taken by the low-cost carrier against UK broadcaster Channel 4, the High Court has been told.
The airline is suing Channel 4 and Blakeway Productions Limited over a 2013 broadcast of Dispatches that focused on the alleged fuel level concerns of pilots in Spain in July 2012.
In 2013, the airline said it rejected “false and defamatory claims made by the Channel 4 Dispatches programme” which, they allege, “impugn and smear” Ryanair.
The company said Ryanair had an “outstanding 29-year safety record” and that the programme was based on “nothing more than anonymous hearsay claims made by individuals whose identity was concealed”.
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The Dispatches episode, Ryanair: Secrets from the Cockpit, aired in August 2013 and featured some anonymous pilots raising concerns about the airline’s fuel policy.
After it was aired, a spokesperson for the company released a statement confirming Ryanair had instructed its lawyers to issue legal proceedings for defamation.
“Ryanair looks forward to this matter being resolved in the courts and the safety of Ryanair’s operations being thoroughly vindicated,” said a spokesman.
Channel 4 has said the station is “standing by” its journalism.
In the aftermath of the airing of the programme, John Goss, a veteran pilot of 25 years’ service, had his employment at the airline terminated.
On Thursday, Paul O’Higgins SC, for Mr Goss, said his client should be added to the existing proceedings. Mr O’Higgins told Mr Justice Alexander Owens that the matters should proceed together, even though Ryanair had taken an action against Mr Goss separately.
Mr O’Higgins said Mr Goss had been a Ryanair pilot and a contributor to the programme.
Mr Justice Owens said he was disposed to joining the matters and told Mr O’Higgins to write to Channel 4 and Ryanair on the subject.
Mr Justice Owens adjourned the matter to be next mentioned on January 28th.
The case against Channel 4 is due to be heard in the High Court next June and is expected to last three weeks.
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