Sienna Darcy, a 12-year-old girl, has been awarded a €30,000 settlement from Ryanair in the Circuit Civil Court in County Mayo for burns sustained on a flight from Lourdes to Dublin on July 12, 2019.
The incident occurred when a hot pasta meal with oil and sauce spilled on Sienna’s left hand, allegedly due to an unstable extendable seat tray, causing severe burns.
Ryanair staff treated Sienna with cold water, cooling gel, and Calpol on the flight, and she was taken by ambulance to Temple Street Children’s Hospital upon landing.
Sienna, who was seven at the time, required multiple hospital visits and counselling for psychological impact, though her burns healed without scarring or loss of function.
Judge Christopher Callan approved the €30,000 settlement, which included €2,610 in special damages, after an earlier €25,000 offer was rejected as inadequate by Judge Michael Walsh in January 2025.
Judge Christopher Callan shared: “I hope her horrible experience would not prevent her from travelling again as it is very important she travel as much as she can. Sienna had suffered nasty burns and pain and trauma.”
Aideen Darcy, Sienna’s mother, shared: “It really was a horrific experience.”
