Wednesday 28 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 1307Breach of contract (small claims – airline booking) · Co. Dublin · 9 Jan 2025

Ryanair booking practices called 'absolute disgrace' by District Court judge in small claims case

A District Court judge in Balbriggan called Ryanair's booking practices 'an absolute disgrace' in a small claims case where Katie Graham of Swords sought €950 for a failed flight booking. The judge found the claim succeeded on the basis of not receiving an error message but could not grant the full relief due to a banking app issue.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court16 Jul
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
11 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatKatie Graham booked return flights through the Ryanair app for her family to visit Turin, Italy, for a skiing holiday (irishtimes.com)
  • whatShe received a reservation number, a prompt to check in, and instructions to get to the airport (irishtimes.com)
  • whatRyanair told her the booking was not successful and the flight to Turin was full (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe alternative was to fly to Milan then drive to Turin at a cost of €1,301.98 (irishtimes.com)
  • whatShe sought €950 for the cost of the Milan flights (irishtimes.com)
  • whatShe did not receive a pop-up message to say her payment had been denied (irishtimes.com)
  • whatIn a separate hearing, Joanna and Keith Troughton from Ballybrack argued they should have received a last call at the gate (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe Troughtons missed their Ryanair flight to London, costing an extra €300 for new flights (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe case was heard at the court in Balbriggan, Co Dublin (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe booking was made on 9 January (irishtimes.com)
  • whenShe drove to the airport with her husband at 11pm for the departure (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 16 Jul2025
    In courtirishtimes.com, first report
    Ryanair’s booking practices ‘an absolute disgrace’, says District Court judge

    Judge Stephanie Coggans ruled the claim 'absolutely succeeds on the basis of not receiving the error message' but could not grant the €950 relief because a banking app issue meant a family member's card was used. In a separate hearing, the judge also disapproved of Ryanair's handling of a missed-flight complaint by the Troughtons of Ballybrack.

    victim, Katie Graham, female, irish (judged from name)Katie Graham