Ryanair CEO denies accusation of bullying former operations chief

Ryanair CE Michael O’Leary on Wednesday dismissed accusations that he bullied and forced out his former operations chief Peter Bellew, telling a court he was a highly paid professional who had failed to deliver. Bellew resigned as Ryanair COO in July and the Irish low-cost carrier has asked the Irish High Court to delay his departure to arch-rival easyJet, saying he is subject to a 12-month non-compete clause. Former Malaysia Airlines boss Bellew denies he is subject to the clause and plans to start working with the British airline at the start of next year. O’Leary was in court to give evidence for a second day. On Tuesday he had made a series of accusations against Bellew, accusing him of lying and of failing to perform, citing “repeated complaints” from employees working under him about slow decisions or no decision making. “If I am hiring Sergio Aguero, I expect him to score goals, I don’t expect to have to show him which side of the goal to shoot at,” O’Leary told the court, comparing Bellew to the Manchester City soccer club striker. Story has more.<br/>