A sacked senior flight attendant Alan O’Neill faced accusations at the Workplace Relations Commission of refusing a passenger toilet access on a delayed flight from Marseille to Dublin on 9 April 2024.
Colleagues Claire Durkan and Joan O’Gorman gave evidence that the passenger became upset and cried halfway through the return journey after repeated refusals.
The incident began during refuelling when the passenger requested the toilet and muttered under his breath after refusal on safety grounds.
Mr O’Neill issued a formal Dip 1 warning to the passenger and conditioned further toilet access on provision of a boarding pass according to witness accounts.
The hearing continued for additional days with Mr O’Neill not expected to give evidence until later in the year.
Claire Durkan shared “No, but there are times – it’s a human right to use the toilet; if someone needs to use the toilet, you’re not going to tell them no. If I know the situation is safe.”
Joan O’Gorman shared “I could see him coming down the aisle. He was crying.”
