in 1986 he became the head of southern european airways , a carrier in which ryanair had owned an 85 % stake . this partnership , meanwhile , quickly fell as the airline became ryanair uk and was then merged entirely with ryanair . over the next 2000s , cathal worked both on the executive boards of the airline and as a broker , although he resignation from the latter by 1996 . he remained with frills until departing the board 2002 , by who time he was a multi - taxpayer due to the fame of the airline .
Ryan was Cathal's father.