The High Court today continued an interim order restraining two members of the Irish Airline Pilots Association (IALPA) and its British counterpart, BALPA, from deleting or destroying codenames used on the Ryanair European Pilots Association (REPA) website.
The order was granted on March 18th last and, on consent of both sides, was continued yesterday by Mr Justice Murphy for another two weeks to facilitate the exchange of legal documents.
Ryanair claims that unknown persons allegedly known to the defendants are engaged in a concerted process of intimidation, bullying, harassment and criminal activity designed to dissuade pilots from taking up position as pilots with a new aircraft fleet.
In its proceedings, Ryanair is seeking an order directing the defendants to disclose the details of names and address of those persons who are referred to by codenames on the REPA website.
Ryanair says it is in the process of converting its Dublin fleet to 737 800 aircraft and is seeking pilots. However, it had become aware in December 2004 of allegations of bullying and harassment of Ryanair pilots for the purpose of dissuading them from accepting positions in Dublin flying the new aricraft.
While Ryanair could not access the websites allegedly concerned, it had obtained printouts of what purported to be communication betweeen members of REPA on the site, it said.
In an affidavit, Mr Eddie Wilson, director of peronnel with Ryanair, said a member of the REPA with the code name "ihateryanair" had posted messages on the REPA website which stated: "We are all united here ... everyone of us. They are not welcome and they will know it as soon as they walk in. Considering slashing their tyres ... haven't decided yet".
Mr Wilson said he understood the references in the messages to "they" was to Ryanair pilots who were considering applying or who had applied to fly 737-800 in Dublin.
Another message on the REPA website allegedly said: "The really sad thing is that no one likes a turncoat, neither the company or their friends because, if they will do it once, how can you trust that they will not do it again so for these guys they will have to spend the rest of their careers with the tag of being a turncoat and aviation as we all know is a small enough world so the tag will not be shaken off easily.
"So for these guys and gals-no excuses-we are all adults and make our decisions accordingly ... no need for slashing tyres ... they know they have let everybody down."
Mr Wilson said that while Ryanair accepted the rights of individuals to join trade unions if they wished, REPA was not a registered trade union. He said the association was set up in October 2004 and its web site was designed to allow Ryanair pilots communicate with one another anonymously.