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A young girl who lost her purse on a Ryanair flight, was shocked when she was forced to pay €10 for its return.

Emma Lally, nine, misplaced her purse while buying presents on a flight home to Dublin from Spain.

Although her father Sean Lally was able to track down the purse after a series of phone calls to Dublin Airport, Emma was left in tears after being told she must pay €10 (£8.50) to reclaim it.

Ryanair uses lost property provider Greencap, which charges a €10 administrative fee.

Dublin Airport Authority charges €6 to reclaim lost items.

Mr Lally was grateful that Ryanair staff had handed in his daughter's purse but is still fuming over the charge, particularly when it invovled a child.

'I was a bit annoyed that I had to pay back money for something that was ours,' Mr Lally told the Belfast Telegraph.

'I was delighted to get it back, but she's only a child.'

Emma had written her personal details inside the purse, which contained €42 in cash which she had saved from her holiday spending money.

Mr Lally said: 'Her name and address were written inside the purse in a child's handwriting.

'It was very obvious that it was a child's purse. She's a good kid and she went away and had a little think about it, and came to me and said she wanted to give me the money.

'Emma was delighted to get it back but she couldn't believe that she had to pay the money. I don't see why it can't be given back without a charge.'

Ryanair did not return MailOnline calls early this evening.

However it is believed that the budget airline uses Greencap because the Dublin Airport Authority does not accept lost and found items from airlines.

'Only items found on the airport premises are administered by the DAA. The DAA and Greencap charge an administration fee for the recording, storing and recovery of lost items,' a spokesman told the Belfast Telegraph.

The DAA rejected that charge, saying it has never refused to accept lost valuables.
 

Source: The Daily Mail