President Sarkozy and his new wife, Carla, scored a Pyrrhic victory over Ryanair today when they won a lawsuit against the low-cost carrier for the unauthorised use of their photograph but failed to obtain the damages they had been seeking.

Mrs Sarkozy was awarded 60,001 euros by Judge Louis-Marie Raingeard at Paris Tribunal - far less than the 500,000 euros she had demanded to compensate for what she claimed was financial loss and emotional distress.

Mr Sarkozy, who married the Italian-born supermodel-turned singer this weekend after a three month romance, was given one euro in damages, the sum for which he had asked.

In an indication that France's most famous newly weds may prove litigious as well as glamorous, the Sarkozys sued the Irish airline over an advertisement in Le Parisien newspaper last week.

This showed a photograph of them rubbing shoulders and smiling dreamily with a thought bubble above Mrs Sarkozy's head saying: "With Ryanair, all my family can come to my wedding.'

Maitre Thierry Herzog, their lawyer, said the carrier had ridden roughshod over the couple's right under French law to protect and use their image.

'For the President of the Republic, it is a question of principles,' added David Martinon, Mr Sarkozy's official spokesman.'

He said Mrs Sarkozy, 39, was afraid of losing advertising revenue if companies used her photograph without paying her. .

'That's her job, her image. In this instance, she's suffered financial damage.'

Maitre Herzog said she had demanded 500,000 euros because that was what she would expect to earn from a typical advertising contract.

Mrs Sarkozy is currently appearing in television and press advertisements in France and other European countries for Lancia, the Italian car maker.

Speaking in court last week, Maitre Herzog added that she had 'never indicated that she wanted to get married'.

Two days later, she wed Mr Sarkozy at a private ceremony at the Elysee Palace in Paris.

Ryanair denounced Mrs Sarkozy's claims as ludicrous, saying she had 'engaged in one of the most open, publicised and internationally reported relationships, in the world'.

In his ruling, Judge Raingeard said Mr Sarkozy had an 'absolute and exclusive right' to defend his image 'whatever his status and fame.'

He said Mrs Sarkozy - whose maiden name is Carla Bruni - had suffered financial loss not only because of the advertisement in Le Parisien but also because of the 'chatter' it had generated, notably on the internet.

Maitre Francis Teitgen, Ryanair's lawyer, said: 'It is essentially the chatter which is being penalised. That's the great novelty of this ruling.'

Judge Raingeard awarded Mrs Sarkozy 60,000 in financial damages but only one euro for emotional distress.

The Sarkozys had been seeking a ruling which would have dissuaded the media industry from publishing their photographs without their permission in the future - which looks unlikely given their failure to win punitive damages.

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