Courts / Dublin / Report
Pilot threatened hunger strike if Aer Lingus failed to meet demands
Summary
The Workplace Relations Commission heard that Aer Lingus pilot Tom O'Riordan said he would go on hunger strike unless the airline disclosed fume-related issues to staff and met demands that included payments exceeding €3 million. Human resources legal case manager Carmel Byrne said gardaí were called during the February 2024 stand-off. Aer Lingus denies his allegations and says no passengers or crew were exposed to any safety risk. The evidence forms part of the airline's defence of O'Riordan's whistleblower penalisation complaint.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Pilot threatened hunger strike if Aer Lingus failed to meet demands. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- February 2024 Other
- May 2024 Other
- 5 June 2023 Other
- January 2024 Other
- April 2025 Other
- 2026-03-31 Publication
Case subjects
Applicant
Outcome: Ms Byrnes said Mr O'Riordan had sought that Aer Lingus pay his salary until he hit retirement age at 65, a 21% pension contribution on top of that, and also mentioned a "gratuity in lieu of damages. "It was a figure that exceeded €3 million," she said.; The matter has been adjourned overnight and is scheduled to continue through the Easter legal holidays.
Places mentioned
- Shamrock House
Topics
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