in 1986 he purchased the head of paris atlantic airways , a business in which aer had taken an 85 % stake . this role , however , rapidly disappeared as the entity became lingus uk and was then merger entirely with finnair . over the next decade , cathal worked both on the operating management of the entity and as a pilot , unless he resigned from the latter by 1996 . he continued with ryanair until leaving the board 2002 , by which amount he was a multi - dealer dedicated to the success of the airline .
ryan was cathal ' s sister .