Overview
- Michael O'Leary posted a video apology on Friday, Sept 18, saying he was "sincerely and unreservedly" sorry after conversations with family and friends and promising to learn from the mistake.
- The apology follows comments made to reporters before Ryanair’s annual meeting in which O'Leary called some competitors "high‑fare rapists" and initially defended the comparison.
- The Dublin Rape Crisis Centre and other survivor groups condemned the wording as trivialising sexual violence, and the DRCC said the remarks caused distress and reported a rise in helpline contacts.
- Politicians in Ireland and the UK, unions and victim-support charities publicly criticised O'Leary, creating immediate reputational and staff‑relations risks for Ryanair.
- Key questions remain about follow-up: O'Leary previously rejected offers of training but charities have welcomed the apology and want concrete engagement, policy change or learning steps to be confirmed.