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| Ryanair was 'woeful', say lawyers for racially abused passenger | Ryanair was 'woeful', say lawyers for racially abused passenger |
| (2 months later) | |
| Lawyers acting for a passenger who was racially abused on a Ryanair flight have demanded an apology and compensation from the airline, describing its response as “woeful”. | Lawyers acting for a passenger who was racially abused on a Ryanair flight have demanded an apology and compensation from the airline, describing its response as “woeful”. |
| The lawyers said that at no time did the airline check on the wellbeing of Delsie Gayle, 77, and that Ryanair’s first contact was on 2 November, 14 days after the incident, when a letter dated 21 October arrived from Ireland. | The lawyers said that at no time did the airline check on the wellbeing of Delsie Gayle, 77, and that Ryanair’s first contact was on 2 November, 14 days after the incident, when a letter dated 21 October arrived from Ireland. |
| A passenger seated alongside Gayle on the flight from Barcelona, David Mesher, was filmed subjecting her to racist abuse, including calling her an “ugly black bastard”. However, crewmembers made Gayle, who suffers from arthritis and has a replacement knee, twice move seat, rather than remove Mesher from the flight. | A passenger seated alongside Gayle on the flight from Barcelona, David Mesher, was filmed subjecting her to racist abuse, including calling her an “ugly black bastard”. However, crewmembers made Gayle, who suffers from arthritis and has a replacement knee, twice move seat, rather than remove Mesher from the flight. |
| Gayle had been on holiday with her daughter Carol, a year after the death of her husband, when the incident occurred before take-off in Barcelona. | Gayle had been on holiday with her daughter Carol, a year after the death of her husband, when the incident occurred before take-off in Barcelona. |
| In a letter to Ryanair, law firm Leigh Day says that at no point did any member of the cabin crew check her wellbeing, and met her eventual complaints with “disinterest and obstructiveness”. They also say that the media were shown the “private and confidential” letter from Ryanair to Gayle long before she received it. | In a letter to Ryanair, law firm Leigh Day says that at no point did any member of the cabin crew check her wellbeing, and met her eventual complaints with “disinterest and obstructiveness”. They also say that the media were shown the “private and confidential” letter from Ryanair to Gayle long before she received it. |
| As well as calling for an apology and compensation, the lawyers demand to know what steps Ryanair is taking, including crew training, to minimise the risk of similar future incidents. | As well as calling for an apology and compensation, the lawyers demand to know what steps Ryanair is taking, including crew training, to minimise the risk of similar future incidents. |
| Gayle said: “I felt really frightened. He should have been taken off the plane, and yet I was the one who was asked to move. Ryanair’s disrespect and lack of any interest at all in my wellbeing makes me feel even worse.” | Gayle said: “I felt really frightened. He should have been taken off the plane, and yet I was the one who was asked to move. Ryanair’s disrespect and lack of any interest at all in my wellbeing makes me feel even worse.” |
| Richard Meeran, of Leigh Day, said: “Ryanair’s response to the vile racist abuse Mrs Gayle was subjected to has been woeful. Ryanair needs to take this issue seriously. It should apologise properly to Mrs Gayle and compensate her for the distress it has caused her. | Richard Meeran, of Leigh Day, said: “Ryanair’s response to the vile racist abuse Mrs Gayle was subjected to has been woeful. Ryanair needs to take this issue seriously. It should apologise properly to Mrs Gayle and compensate her for the distress it has caused her. |
| “It should take responsibility for the crude mishandling of the incident and explain what action it has taken … and what steps it is taking to minimise the risk of future abuse of its passengers.” | “It should take responsibility for the crude mishandling of the incident and explain what action it has taken … and what steps it is taking to minimise the risk of future abuse of its passengers.” |
| Ryanair has yet to respond to the latest legal claims, but has previously said it only became aware of the incident via footage on social media shot by a fellow passenger, and issued an apology. “We believe that by reporting this matter immediately to the Essex police and by apologising in writing to this customer early on Sunday morning, Ryanair treated it with the urgency and seriousness it warranted.” | Ryanair has yet to respond to the latest legal claims, but has previously said it only became aware of the incident via footage on social media shot by a fellow passenger, and issued an apology. “We believe that by reporting this matter immediately to the Essex police and by apologising in writing to this customer early on Sunday morning, Ryanair treated it with the urgency and seriousness it warranted.” |
| The airline contacted police on 21 October. It said cabin crew on the flight had asked Gayle if she was OK, moved her at her own request, and had not been aware of the racist abuse by Mesher. | The airline contacted police on 21 October. It said cabin crew on the flight had asked Gayle if she was OK, moved her at her own request, and had not been aware of the racist abuse by Mesher. |
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