I understand the first question usually asked by lawyers of the potential litigant/claimant is 'Do you have any money'? ...and the second question is 'Does the person/organisation you wish to sue have any money '? If the answer to either is a 'No' then ordinarily forget it, although there are No win No fee lawyers in the UK prepared to take it on provided the defendant has assets and there's a reasonable prospect of success. Presumably Ryanair were confident that the defendant had money