Courts / Ireland / Report
Ryanair must pay only portion of former COO's legal bill after failed action
2020-01-27
Hearing Or Decision
Summary
In a January 2020 judgment, Mr Justice Senan ruled that Ryanair must pay only a portion of former Chief Operations Officer Peter Bellew's legal costs. The court found that a clause in Bellew's contract that barred him from working for any European airline for 12 months was unenforceable, as Ryanair had not demonstrated that its interests extended beyond direct competitors in the low‑cost sector. The judge noted that Ryanair had a legitimate interest in the covenant but that it exceeded what was justified. Bellew's lawyers sought an order compelling Ryanair to cover his costs, but the court held that it would be unjust to require Ryanair to pay for discovery costs or for additional trial days. Consequently, Ryanair is liable only for Bellew's legal costs for two of the eight days the case was heard. The decision also confirmed that Bellew was not unfairly treated by Ryanair's chief executive in relation to a 2019 share‑option scheme.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Ryanair must pay only portion of former COO's legal bill after failed action. Procedural stage: hearing_or_decision
When:
- 2020-01-27 Publication
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