A Ryanair engineer who complained about the airline to gardai, the Irish Aviation Authority and, on four occasions, a rights commissioner, was unfairly dismissed, it was claimed yesterday.
Mr Kevin Carroll of Wicklow town told the Employment Appeals Tribunal he had been badly treated by the company following a complaint he made in February 1998 about a cracked lens in one of the company's aircraft.
He said he reported the issue to Ryanair but following the loss of a fax of his complaint he lost confidence in the procedure and reported the incident to the Irish Aviation Authority. He alleged that news of his complaints leaked out and made his relations with colleagues difficult.
He also alleged that, following his complaint, his shift work of four consecutive 12-hour shifts, followed by four days off, was changed to a more standard five-day week. The change upset his child-minding arrangements and travel to and from his home in Wicklow.
The company said it did not dispute Mr Carroll's right to complain but argued that, following the correct action, the issues were settled. The difficulty was that Mr Carroll appeared to be unable to move forward and put the issues behind him.
The tribunal will deliver its verdict in four to six weeks.
