Courts / Dublin / Report

'He's a posh Belvedere boy': First officer's repeat apologies during Aer Lingus flight were private school 'manners', tribunal told

Date
2025-12-12

Stage
Hearing Or Decision

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

A tribunal hearing involving Aer Lingus pilot Declan McCabe, who was demoted from captain to first officer following an incident on 8 June 2023, has been adjourned to the new year by Adjudicator John Harraghy. McCabe is contesting statutory complaints brought under the Protected Disclosures Act 2014, the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005, and the Payment of Wages Act 1997 at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC). McCabe claims the incident, which involved a failure to link up with a navigation beacon on approach to Dublin airport, was a 'non-event' and that the use of the word 'apologies' by his first officer was a reflection of his 'manners' as a 'well-educated, posh Belvedere boy'. Aer Lingus denies the complaints and has argued that McCabe failed to submit a timely air safety report and provided 'inaccurate information' to air traffic control. McCabe alleges the demotion was part of a 'predetermined' process aimed at penalising him, linked to a 2011 dispute over fatigue. The matter was adjourned and will resume in the new year.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: 'He's a posh Belvedere boy': First officer's repeat apologies during Aer Lingus flight were private school 'manners', tribunal told. Procedural stage: hearing_or_decision

When:

8 June 2023 Incident
4 July 2024 Other
New Year's Day 2024 Incident
new year Other
2025-12-12 Publication