Méadbh Gallagher, Aer Lingus company secretary, testified at the Workplace Relations Commission that pursuing an injunction against sacked captain Tom O’Riordan’s online posts risked amplifying his ‘campaign of disruption’ via the Streisand effect.
O’Riordan, a pilot-turned-whistleblower, faces Aer Lingus in a claim of penalisation and unfair dismissal, with the airline presenting its defence this week before the tribunal.
Gallagher explained that legal action to remove content would spotlight the material, as O’Riordan’s social media activity centres on his dispute with the airline.
The hearing occurs at the Workplace Relations Commission, addressing O’Riordan’s allegations against Aer Lingus Ltd.
The Streisand effect describes a situation where an attempt to hide, remove, or censor information results in the unintended consequence of the effort instead increasing public awareness of the information.
