Recordings found on mobile phones belonging to the migrants found dead in a refrigerated trailer in Essex in October suggest “at least some” of them may have been alive after entering UK territorial waters, the High Court in Dublin has been told.

British authorities are seeking the surrender of Eamon Harrison (23) from Mayobridge, Co Down, to face 39 counts of manslaughter, conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration and conspiracy to commit human trafficking under the UK’s Modern Slavery Act.

It is alleged that Mr Harrison had a role in transporting the trailer in which the bodies of eight women and 31 ….read more

(Pictured: Mr Peter Bellew. Credit: Collins)

Ryanair’s Chief Operations Officer Peter Bellew has told the High Court that he “was shocked and devastated” and was left with no doubts that Michael O’Leary wanted him out of the company following a meeting with the airline’s boss last March.

Mr Bellew said the meeting with Mr O’Leary occurred on March 22nd last, where they discussed his annual review and performance as COO for the previous 12 months.

He said that Mr O’Leary had raised serious issues with and was critical of his performance as COO, which Mr Bellew said he disagreed with, and the Ryanair ….read more

(Pictured: Ms Siobhan Stack SC. Credit: Collins)

Lawyers for a northern Irish man alleged to have delivered the refrigerated trailer in which 39 migrants were found dead in England in October, have questioned the validity of the UK’s proposed extradition request.

British authorities are seeking the surrender of Eamon Harrison (22) from Mayobridge, Co Down, to face 39 counts of manslaughter, conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration and conspiracy to commit human trafficking under the UK’s Modern Slavery Act.

The warrant seeking his extradition refers to Mr Harrison as a British citizen.

It is alleged that Mr Harrison delivered the trailer, in which ….read more

(Pictured: Mr Peter Bellew. Credit: Collins)

The High Court has refused Ryanair’s application to include evidence about the alleged downloading of material from its internal computer system by Peter Bellew in its ongoing action against its Chief Operations Officer.

Mr Justice Senan Allen ruled the evidence that the airline sought to introduce as part of its bid to enforce a non-compete clause contained in Mr Bellew’s contract of employment was “irrelevant” to the issues the court must decide in the case.

The material that Ryanair sought to introduce consisted of an expert forensic report, where it is alleged that Mr ….read more

(Pictured: Mr Peter Bellew. Credit: Collins)

Senior Ryanair employees have told the High Court that their outgoing Chief Operations Officer Peter Bellew was slow to make decisions on issues raised with him.

Adrian Dunne and Neal McMahon, who both hold senior positions with Ryanair, told the court that they had both reported to Mr Bellew before he announced he was leaving the airline.

Mr Dunne, in reply to Martin Hayden SC for Ryanair, said that Mr Bellew had not signed off on decisions to make salary increases for airline managers based at Stanstead in the UK.

He also said that issues concerning important ….read more

(File Picture: Theresa Lowe & Frank McNamara. Credit: Collins)

A High Court judge has asked for a further clarification on musician Frank McNamara’s financial affairs before deciding if he and his wife barrister Theresa Lowe are entitled to a €2.9m insolvency arrangement with their creditors.

In a judgement given earlier this year, Mr Justice Denis McDonald said that he was minded to approving the PIA but wanted certain matters, including discrepancies in documents filed by Mr McNamara concerning his inheritance from his parent’s estate, clarified.

If approved the PIA will see the couple write off approximately €2.9m of their debts ….read more

By Aodhan O’Faolain

A senior Ryanair executive has told the High Court that its outgoing Chief Operations Officer (COO) Peter Bellew has information about the Irish based airline that a competitor would “kill to have”.

Eddie Wilson said that through “a lot of hard work” and innovation the airline has for many years come up with ways to keep its costs low.

Many would like to know how the airline manages to do this, and such information would be contained in reports available to the airline’s senior management, known as ‘Zs’, including Mr Bellew, he said.

Under cross-examination by Tom Mallon Bl, for Mr ….read more

(Pictured: Ryanair CEO Mr Michael O’Leary. Credit: Collins)

Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary has rejected claims that he created “a culture of fear” among the airline’s pilots out on sick leave from work.

The issue of pilot attendances was an area of responsibility of Chief Operations Officer Peter Bellew, who Ryanair has sued over his decision to take up employment with easyJet.

Mr O’Leary also denied today that he had almost come to “fisty cuffs” with a now former-employee but accepted that he may have used some bad language to describe that person. He further denied being verbally abusive to Mr Bellew in ….read more

A hearing into the proposed extradition of two men to Northern Ireland for the alleged attempted murder of a PSNI officer has opened at the High Court.

Dublin men Ciaran Maguire (29), of Kippure Park, Finglas South and Sean Paul Farrell (32), of Stannaway Road, Kimmage, are wanted in Northern Ireland for the alleged attempted murder of a police officer and possession of explosive substances with intent to endanger life. Both men face life imprisonment on both counts if found guilty.

According to a European Arrest Warrant, the officer’s wife, also a serving PSNI Officer, awoke in the early hours of ….read more

(Pictured: Mr Peter Bellew. Credit: Collins)

Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary has told the High Court that he was “taken aback” when the airline’s COO Peter Bellew informed him that he was joining rival airline Easyjet.

On Wednesday, Mr O’Leary said that last July Mr Bellew informed him he was resigning from his role as Ryanair’s Cheif Operations Officer, citing lack of sleep and stress, and that he “would probably go travelling”.

Several days later, Mr O’Leary said Mr Bellew informed him that he was joining Easyjet as its COO in early 2020, having served out a six-month notice period.

Mr O’Leary said it ….read more