An unfair dismissal case against Ryanair by a former cabin crew member sacked for allegedly falling asleep during a flight was today held up as a key witness has emigrated to Australia.
Dubliner Vanessa Redmond strenuously denies she slept during the flight last year and has taken the airline to an Employment Appeals Tribunal over her sacking.
Ryanair claims she was guilty of gross misconduct and compromised passenger safety.
It is alleged the senior crew member closed off the front row of passenger seats, sat in the row reading a book and fell asleep on the flight from Dublin to Durham, England in May 2005.
It is also claimed she delegated crucial security procedures to a junior crew member who only started working with the airline days before.
The complaint was made immediately after the flight by a passenger, Matt Shepard, who was also the partner of another Ryanair employee. The company said it regularly gives such passengers free flights in return for reporting on cabin crew performance.
Mr Shepard has since moved to Perth, Australia, where he has taken up a new job and is unable to appear before the tribunal in Dublin.
Killian O'Reilly, lawyer for the airline, said the central witness was willing to give testimony by video-link.
But Siptu negotiator Dermot O'Loughlin, representing Ms Redmond, objected to the televisual evidence. He said it would be unfair if he could not cross-examine the witness in person.
Mr O'Reilly ruled out the option of the tribunal sitting in Australia, or a "half-way" compromise like Dubai, because of the costs involved, which would be incurred by the airline.
The tribunal earlier agreed to issue subpoenas for four other witnesses - all former Ryanair cabin crew - who were due to give evidence for Ms Redmond. All indicated on Friday they were now unable to attend.
PA