A High Court action for damages taken by a flight attendant against the estate of the late singer Dolores O'Riordan has been settled.
Carmel Coyne of Cappagh Road in Galway, sued Ms O’Riordan in 2017 over an alleged air rage incident on an Aer Lingus flight from New York to Shannon in November 2014.
Ms Coyne, 51, was a senior cabin crew member and alleged that Ms O'Riordan, who was a business class passenger, stamped on her foot during the incident.
She had claimed damages for alleged assault, battery, false imprisonment, breach of her right to privacy and right to earn a living. Ms Coyne also claimed she was out of work for seven months.
After the death of Ms O'Riordan in London in January 2018, the proceedings were reconstituted to allow the case to be taken against representatives of her estate. The defendants denied the claims.
This morning, Mr Justice Tony O’Connor was told the case had been settled on terms agreed by both sides.
Senior Counsel Declan Doyle, representing Ms Coyne along with barrister Tadhg Dorgan, told the judge that the matter could be struck out and that no monies had been paid in relation to Ms Coyne's claim for loss of earnings.
Senior Counsel Henry Downing said the defendants consented to the matter being struck out without an admission of liability.
Earlier this month, the High Court refused an application by Ms O'Riordan's estate to transfer the matter to the Circuit Court where awards of damages are lower.
Ms Coyne had alleged in her action that Ms O'Riordan was visibly upset during the flight on 10 November 2014, after drinking champagne, wine and port. She told Ms Coyne that her marriage was breaking up and later tried to light a cigarette in the bathroom.
Ms Coyne alleged Ms O'Riordan became hostile and aggressive towards another passenger and with 40 minutes on the flight remaining, began shouting and screaming.
Ms Coyne said that as the plane was landing, Ms O'Riordan got out of her seat and said "get me off this f***ing aeroplane".
When they landed, Ms Coyne said Ms O'Riordan began to jump up and thrash her arms around and her foot came down on Ms Coyne's foot. The court was told Ms O'Riordan was wearing platform heeled boots.
Lawyers for Ms Coyne said she was out of work for seven months and still has certain issues with her foot.
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Ms O'Riordan, who was the lead singer of the Cranberries, was ordered to pay €6,000 to the court poor box after appearing at Ennis District Court in February 2016 in relation to the incident, during which she also headbutted a garda and spat in his face.
Judge Patrick Durcan said during the hearing that to criminalise Ms O'Riordan would be unfair as she was suffering from a "severe mental illness" at the time.
The court heard that Ms O'Riordan apologised unreservedly for her actions and was very remorseful and embarrassed.
The Cranberries singer was found dead in a hotel room in London on 15 January 2018, aged 46.
An inquest later heard that Ms O'Riordan had bipolar affective disorder, but was responding well to treatment.
The inquest concluded she died of drowning due to alcohol intoxication and that her death was a "tragic accident". At the time, she was preparing to record music and to tour again.
