Ryanair and Daily Mail settle libel case
Ryanair and the Daily Mail have settled a libel claim over the newspaper’s reporting of a recent Dispatches programme.
The programme, which questioned Ryanair’s safety, was aired by Channel 4 last month.
The airline is still pursuing legal action against the Dispatches programme, which it claims was defamatory.
In a High Court in Belfast today, the publishers of The Daily Mail and Irish Daily Mail set the record straight in an open statement as part of a confidential settlement.
The statement, read out by Associated Newspapers, said the group accepts the recent confirmation issued by the independent Irish Aviation Authority that "Ryanair’s safety is on a par with the safest airlines in Europe" and acknowledge Ryanair’s 29 year safety record.
Ryanair said the statement vindicates its safety record.
Paul Tweed, representing Ryanair, said: "My client acknowledges and appreciates the prompt and comprehensive manner in which the Mail have acted to set the record straight in relation to the reporting of what were totally false and misleading statements, originating from a Channel 4 Dispatches programme which remains the subject of ongoing litigation."
"We are continuing to vigorously pursue Channel 4 in relation to their outrageous defamatory broadcast which sought to undermine our client’s internationally acknowledged safety record spanning three decades.
"We will be seeking to have our client’s libel actions against Channel 4 Dispatches and others listed before the High Court in Dublin as soon as possible."
Ryanair chief pilot Ray Conway added: "I am very satisfied with the comprehensive vindication and acknowledgement of Ryanair’s 29 year safety record by the Daily Mail before the court this morning.
"While I am unable to make specific comments concerning our ongoing legal proceedings regarding Channel 4’s Dispatches programme, I wish to emphasise that Ryanair cannot and will not tolerate what were totally unjustified and inappropriate allegations in relation to our industry-leading safety."
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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