SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 6-K
Report of Foreign Private Issuer
Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the month of January, 2008
RYANAIR HOLDINGS PLC
(Translation of registrant's name into English)
c/o Ryanair Ltd Corporate Head Office
Dublin Airport
County Dublin Ireland
(Address of principal executive offices)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual
reports under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
Form 20-F..X.. Form 40-F.....
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information
contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the
Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934.
Yes ..... No ..X..
If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant
in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82- ________
RYANAIR RESPONDS TO LEGAL ACTION
FROM PRESIDENT SARKOZY AND MS CARLA BRUNI
Ryanair, France's largest low fares airline today (Thursday, 31 January 2008)
responded to a legal action launched by President Sarkozy and Ms Carla Bruni,
relating to a humorous advert, which ran in the Le Parisien newspaper last week.
Ryanair has previously written to President Sarkozy's office apologising for any
offence caused, and undertaking that it would not publish the advert (or
anything similar to it) again. Ryanair has also offered - as a token of its
regret - to make a donation of EUR5,000 to any charity of President Sarkozy's
choice.
Last evening however, Ryanair received legal papers from President Sarkozy and
Ms Bruni under which President Sarkozy was seeking damages of EUR1, but Ms Bruni
was seeking damages of EUR500,000. Ryanair's lawyers will today tell the French
Courts that they are happy to settle President Sarkozy's claim for EUR1 and
Ryanair will renew its offer to make a charitable contribution of EUR5,000 to
any charity of President Sarkozy's choice. Ryanair has the utmost respect for
President Sarkozy and the high office which he holds.
Ryanair's lawyers will also make a similar offer to Ms Bruni, offering damages
of EUR1 and a contribution of EUR5,000 to any charity of Mr Bruni's choice.
Ryanair will not however agree to any totally unjustified payment of EUR500,000
to Ms Bruni, who has engaged in an open, widely publicised and internationally
reported relationship with President Sarkozy. The advert used by Ryanair was
taken from one of the French newspapers and Ryanair notes that Ms Bruni did not
make any objection to any of the remaining thousands of photographs of her which
have appeared in over 55,000 newspapers and magazines in recent weeks.
Speaking today Ryanair's Peter Sherrard said:
"We apologised immediately and sincerely to both President Sarkozy and
Ms Bruni for this advert which ran in Le Parisien newspaper this week.
It was an honest attempt by Ryanair to reflect humorously and positively
on this very public and publicised relationship.
"However Ryanair has no intention of giving in to threats from Ms Bruni
or to her ludicrous claims and we will vigorously oppose any claim for
EUR500,000 from this lady who had engaged in one of the most open,
publicised and internationally reported relationships, in the world, in
recent weeks.
"We do however renew our sincere apologies to both President Sarkozy and
to Ms Bruni and believe that an appropriate payment to a charity of
their choice would be the best and most elegant way to resolve this
matter".
Ends. Thursday, 31st January 2008
For further information
please contact:
Peter Sherrard Pauline McAlester
Ryanair Murray Consultants
Tel. +353-1-8121212 Tel. +353-1-4980300
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, hereunto duly authorized.
RYANAIR HOLDINGS PLC
Date: 31 January, 2008
By:___/s/ James Callaghan____
James Callaghan
Company Secretary & Finance Director