Just an update on this.

BA are sticking to their claim that the plane was hit by a bird and diverted to another airport, which I find frankly ridiculous. The plane was clearly on stand and ready to go and we were advised numerous times that our crew had been switched to another flight and we were just waiting on another crew to arrive from Dublin (who didn't make it in time before the 22.30 LCY cut off.)

So either BA are lying now, or they were lying through their teeth on the actual evening (which I doubt, as if the plane had been diverted due to a bird strike, surely they would have cancelled the flight straight away, and not kept us hanging around the airport mysteriously for hours).

I will now be taking this forwards to CEDR in the first instance and will keep everyone updated.