Ryanair is facing a legal costs bill likely to be well in excess of the €80,000 damages awarded against it last week in the successful defamation action brought by former Miss World Rosanna Davison.
Mr Justice Éamon de Valera made formal orders yesterday awarding the €80,000 damages and legal costs of the case to Ms Davison. Legal sources believe the costs bill of the five-day action are likely to substantially exceed the damages amount. Declan Doyle SC, for Ms Davison (27), told Mr Justice de Valera yesterday the only orders necessary in the case were for the award itself and for costs in her favour. The judge made those orders.
Following the verdict of the jury late last week, the issues of a possible stay on the award pending appeal, and of costs, were deferred at the request of Mr Doyle. While initially indicating it would appeal, Ryanair issued a statement later the same day saying it would not go to the Supreme Court.