A woman pilot with Ryanair who claimed she was unfairly dismissed for leaving an aircraft after being allegedly subject to harassment by the captain has settled her High Court action against the company.
Ms Cliodhna Duggan of Bettyglen, Raheny, Dublin, and Ryanair agreed to Mr Justice Butler declaring that, in refusing to operate Ryanair flight FR7922 from Prestwick to Charleroi on July 10th, 2001 with Captain Les Hounsome, Ms Duggan had "acted in good faith, in the best interests of flight safety and in the best interests of Ryanair and their passengers".
The parties also agreed that the remainder of Ms Duggan's claim and a counterclaim by Ryanair should be struck out. Ms Duggan will also get the costs of her action.
Among the items struck out in Ms Duggan's claim was an application for a declaration that Ryanair had failed to implement a policy to prevent bullying and harassment of its employees together with claims of sexual harassment and defamation.
A hearing in June last year was told that Ms Duggan claimed a purported termination of her employment was a conspiracy between the Ryanair companies to demonstrate the power of Ryanair and to send a signal to pilots that the company would not accept any critical comments. In an affidavit, Ms Duggan claimed she was shaking and terrified after Captain Hounsome allegedly shouted at her during a flight from Charleroi to Prestwick, two years ago.
She also claimed his actions towards her were unwelcome and that should have been obvious to him.
She further claimed the actions amounted to sexual harassment.
She claimed that she was summoned to a meeting on July 12th, 2001 last and taken off the flying roster. Four days later, she received a letter stating that she was dismissed.
The letter stated that her behaviour during the flight incident and at the "disciplinary meeting" on July 12th, 2001 demonstrated an "inappropriate attitude, lack of judgment and an unwillingness to learn or accept direction".
Rynair had denied Ms Duggan's claims.