Anti-Ryanair protestor halts Premiership football match
A man protesting about Ryanair’s recruitment policy halted a Premier League clash between Everton and Manchester City when he handcuffed himself to a goalpost.
Wearing a T-shirt which read, Ryanair – Europe’s greatest training robbers. Lowest wages guaranteed – John Foley chained himself to Man City’s goal during the game at Goodison Park where Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary was seated amongst the fans.
Images were beamed around the world on Sky Sports and photos of Foley, wearing his T-shirt, appeared in national newspapers in the UK.
It was the latest in a series of protests by Foley, 46, who set up the Ryanairdontcare campaign four years ago after his 18-year-old daughter Sarah was allegedly made redundant just seven weeks into her job with the airline.
He says she was forced to pay for her own flight back home from Dublin where she had been based by the airline.
Foley believes his daughter is one of many cabin crew tricked into paying to train for a job with Ryanair.
Sarah was allegedly recruited by St James Management which trains cabin crew for Ryanair. She paid a deposit to take a six-week training programme in Hertfordshire before being offered a contract from Crewlink.
On his blog, ryanairdontcare, Foley said his daughter and 20 others were told that they were being dismissed due to the recession but he claimed it was a scam by the airline to get money out of young people.
Ryanair’s rejects Mr Foley’s claims.
European communication manager Daniel de Carvalho said: "Ryanair can confirm that this person was never directly employed by Ryanair, she was employed by Crewlink which supply contract cabin crew to Ryanair.
"Crewlink confirm that this woman failed her probation as within the first seven weeks she had a number of occasions of lateness, a large number of uncertified leave days and one occasion where she did not report for duty.
"At Ryanair we maintain very high standards of professionalism among our cabin crew and people who are unwilling to work hard or turn up for work will not continue to be employed either by Ryanair or by any of our contractors."
Foley was released on police bail after spending a night in prison cells following his pitch invasion. He will appear before Liverpool Magistrates Court on February 17. After his release he apologised to the football clubs and to the fans….except Michael O’Leary.
By Linsey McNeill
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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