A DUBLIN man who has been banned since 2002 from flying with Ryanair could face imprisonment for flying with the airline.
Barrister Patrick Leonard told a judge that eight years ago Val Whelehan had given the High Court an undertaking he would not again assault or threaten Ryanair staff or customers. Mr Whelehan had vowed he would not fly with Ryanair or attempt to book a flight with the airline, nor would he attempt to interfere with Ryanair’s economic interests.
Mr Leonard told the Circuit Civil Court Mr Whelehan was suing the airline for compensation because in May last year he missed a Dublin-bound Ryanair flight from Weeze airport in Germany.
The court heard that not only should Mr Whelehan not have been flying with the airline, but he was seeking to recover €500 in compensation for having to take a flight from Dusseldorf to Amsterdam, where he stayed overnight before returning to Dublin.
His claim against Ryanair for the €500 had been dismissed in the Small Claims Court, and he was appealing the dismissal to the Circuit Civil Court.
Mr Leonard told Circuit Court president Mr Justice Matthew Deery that Mr Whelehan, of Castle Lawns, Tallaght, Dublin, had taken legal proceedings in the name of Whelan and it was only in recent days the airline had confirmed that the two names related to one and the same person.
Mr Leonard said there had been a long, unhappy history between Ryanair and Mr Whelehan, who had subjected Ryanair employees to both physical and verbal abuse.
In 2002 the airline had been forced to seek injunctions restraining him from using its aircraft. The case had been settled when he gave written undertakings to the High Court.
Mr Leonard said he had breached those undertakings by flying or attempting to fly with Ryanair from Germany in May last year. He could face attachment and committal proceedings by Ryanair for contempt of court.
Judge Deery said since Mr Whelehan had not appeared in court he would dismiss the compensation claim and order him to pay Ryanair’s legal costs.