A young Irish girl who lost her purse on a Ryanair flight was appalled when she had to give away a quarter of her pocket money for its return.

Nine-year-old Emma Lally, from Dublin, became distressed when she realised she had lost her purse while buying presents on a flight home from Salou, Spain, two weeks ago

Her father, Sean, tracked down the lost purse but Emma was dealt another hard blow when she learned that she would have to pay a €10 administration fee for its return. Sean contacted the airline's lost property provider Greencap who told him it had the purse — but Emma would have to pay €10 for its return.

“I was a bit annoyed that I had to pay back money for something that was ours. I was delighted to get it back but she's only a child,” Sean said.

The father criticised the system in which Greencap, the lost property service provider used by Ryanair, charges people €10 for the recovery of their items.

Dublin Airport Authority charges €6 for recovery.

“Fair play to the Ryanair staff for finding the purse and handing it in,” he said.

“I contacted Greencap and I was told that it was ready for collection.”

But Sean is still fuming about the charge because he feels that there should be no charge on a Lost and Found section, especially when a child loses something.

“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.”

Thankfully, the €42 Emma had saved for her holiday spending money was still in the purse when it was returned but she still parted with a quarter of the money to get it back.

“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.”

“I paid the tenner and took the purse. 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.”

A spokesperson for Ryanair says it uses Greencap for the management of lost and found since Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) 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,” the spokesperson said.

However, the DAA said it has never refused any items being handed in at its Lost and Found section.