Case over Dolores O'Riordan alleged air rage incident settled

High Court reporters

A High Court action over an alleged air rage incident involving the late singer Dolores O'Riordan has been settled.

Mr Justice Tony O'Connor was informed of the settlement at the High Court on Wednesday in the personal injuries case brought by flight attendant Carmel Coyne against the estate of the Cranberries’ lead singer.

Declan Doyle SC, for Ms Coyne, asked that the case be struck out. He also said no monies had been paid in relation to Ms Coyne's claim for loss of earnings.

Henry Downing SC, for the defendants, said the case was being struck out without admission of liability.

Ms Coyne, of Cappagh Road, Galway, sued the singer in 2017 over the November 11th, 2014, incident when Ms O’Riordan (46) allegedly stamped on the Aer Lingus flight attendant’s foot during an incident aboard a New York-Shannon flight.

In a defence delivered in July 2017, Ms O’Riordan denied the claims.

Nearly six months later, on January 15th, 2018, Ms O’Riordan was found dead in a bath in a hotel room in London. An inquest later concluded she drowned in the bath while intoxicated with alcohol.

Ms Coyne’s lawyers later applied to the High Court to replace Ms O’Riordan’s name in the title of the case with that of the personal representatives – Peter J. O’Riordan, of Friarstown, Grange, Kilmallock, Co Limerick, and Nollaig Hogan, Riverview Heights, Cahara, Glin, Co Limerick.

The personal representatives consented to the order.

Ms Coyne claimed damages for alleged assault, battery and false imprisonment, as well as for alleged breach of Ms Coyne’s right to privacy and right to earn a living. The defendants denied the claims.

The case had been set down for a jury hearing following a legal wrangle earlier this month about whether it should be heard in the High Court or the Circuit Court, where awards are lower.

Mr Justice O'Connor ruled it should be heard in the High Court.