Daire Gorman, 13, was born with a rare condition called Crommelin syndrome, a condition which impacts the development of limbs
12:22, 02 Jun 2025Updated 12:23, 02 Jun 2025
Liverpool fan Daire Gorman
Daire is a huge Liverpool fan(Image: Shelley Gorman / SWNS)
A mum has criticised Ryanair for stripping her son of his 'independence' and making him feel like an 'inconvenience' after he was told his power wheelchair could not be taken on a flight.
Daire Gorman, 13, who was born without arms or femur bones due to a rare condition known as Crommelin syndrome which affects limb development, was all set to travel to Liverpool to watch his beloved football team lift the Premier League trophy at Anfield last weekend.
But just days before the journey, Ryanair questioned Daire's mum Shelley about the possibility of folding the power wheelchair and later told her it exceeded the airline's size limits.
Daire Gorman
Daire Gorman is a lifelong Liverpool fan
But when she explained it was a power wheelchair and couldn't fold down, they refused to take his chair. She told the Irish Times: "As a parent, you try and do your best for your children and especially children with additional needs and protect them from negativity – my child needs his wheelchair, imagine asking can he not go without it."
Shelley, from Co. Monaghan, Ireland, claims that Ryanair initially refused to offer a refund before relenting. In the end, it wasn't needed as the family were able to source a manual wheelchair, which was used on the day. But this led to more difficulties as Daire needed to use an "aisle chair" to transfer onto the plane seat.
Article continues below
Shelley also claims that Daire entered the plane last, when the aircraft was full, resulting in him being pushed the entire length of the plane, "knocking off people" and "losing his dignity (with) everyone watching him transfer on to the seat". She said that the airline "completely took Daire's independence away and made him feel like an inconvenience".
Daire during a previous trip to Anfield
Daire during a previous trip to Anfield(Image: Shelley Gorman / SWNS)
Shelley told a local radio station: "He was devastated. It's hard enough for someone in a wheelchair, especially a child with additional needs. They find it hard sometimes to fit in.
"So yeah, he was very upset. And he thought then 'oh this is my fault. If I wasn't in a chair this wouldn't be happening. So he was very upset."
In response to Shelley's complaints, Ryanair issued a statement to The Irish Times. In the statement, they say "regrettably, these emotive claims made by his mother are false. She fails anywhere in her complaint to accept that this wheelchair exceeded our well-publicised max dimensions."
Daire, seen here with dad Kenny, touching the famous This Is Anfield sign in the tunnel.
Daire, seen here with dad Kenny, touching the famous This Is Anfield sign in the tunnel.(Image: Shelley Gorman / SWNS)
A Ryanair spokesperson said the max dimensions information was "readily available to Ms Gorman when this booking was made and if she had simply complied with them then that would have been the end of the matter".
The airline also denies asking Daire's mother whether he could travel without a wheelchair and confirms that they did offer a refund. Furthermore, the spokesperson explained that wheelchair boardings are handled by the Dublin Airport Authority and not by individual airlines.
The statement states that Shelley's "claim that 'Ryanair completely took Daire's independence away' is false and absurd."
Article continues below
Daire became an internet sensation in 2023 when an emotional video of him sing club anthem You'll Never Walk Alone during his first visit to Anfield went viral. A touching video later showed him meeting the entire Liverpool team and then-manager Jurgen Klopp.
For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletter by clicking here .