A jury at the High Court in Dublin yesterday ruled that publicity by the airline implied model Rosanna Davison, daughter of singer Chris de Burgh, was racist, xenophobic, jealous and narrow-minded.
The case centred on a press release posted on Ryanair’s website in November 2008 in response to remarks Miss Davison, 27, made the previous day in a newspaper.
Asked what she thought of the lack of any Irish women in Ryanair’s 2009 charity calendar of bikini-clad cabin crew, she said: ‘If I was (organising) it, I would have made sure Irish women were involved because it’s an Irish charity and Irish fundraising.’
The airline’s release said the comments by Miss Davison, who was crowned Miss World in 2003, ‘bordered on racism and demonstrated an elitist attitude against Ryanair’s international cabin crew’.
A barrister for Ms Davison told Dublin's High Court that under Ireland's libel laws her only options were to sue Ryanair or crawl under a rock.
'The damage is still being done,' said Declan Doyle SC, referring to the statement still on the airline's website.
'The fact the defendant still hasn't apologised is still out there.'
Mr Doyle argued Ryanair's reaction to Miss Davison's comments was 'grossly disproportionate' and had damaged her reputation.
He said it was nonsense and defied logic and common sense how a statement saying someone's comments bordered on racism did not imply she is racist.
Dressed in knee-length black dress and black Christian Louboutin shoes, Miss Davison sat alone at the back of the packed courtroom during the closing speeches.
Crowned Miss World in 2003, she later completed an honours degree in Sociology and History of Art in University College Dublin and did a diploma in PR and Event Management.
Mr Justice Eamon de Valera told the jury they had to decide if the press release meant Miss Davison was racist, xenophobic, jealous and narrow-minded.
If so, they must decide if those comments were false and if she should be compensated, he added.
No comments:
Post a Comment