WRC upholds dismissal of Aer Lingus flight attendant Alan O'Neill

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

The Workplace Relations Commission upheld Aer Lingus’s dismissal of senior flight attendant Alan O'Neill and rejected his complaint under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977. The decision was made by adjudication officer Michael MacNamee and reported on 19 June 2026.

The case concerned a 9 April 2024 flight from Marseilles to Dublin, during which Mr O'Neill was accused of refusing a passenger access to the bathroom. His legal team disputed the reported waiting time and said he was following standard operating procedures while the fasten-seatbelt sign was lit. Mr O'Neill also said personal strain had left him feeling “triggered” by the passenger swearing.

Mr MacNamee concluded that the process was fair and reasonable, writing that “Dismissal was warranted and was a reasonable and proportionate response”.