Overview
- Mr O'Leary made the remarks at Ryanair's Dublin headquarters before the airline's annual general meeting on Thursday, saying it was "absolutely" appropriate to call high-fare rivals "rapists" and repeating the phrase "high-fare rapists".
- When reporters asked if the language might offend victims of sexual assault he said he would "happily offend" and rejected the idea that he was trivialising rape.
- The Dublin Rape Crisis Centre and Rape Crisis England & Wales described the comments as deeply hurtful to survivors and offered to provide training on how such language harms victims.
- Ireland's deputy premier Simon Harris, a union representing Ryanair cabin crew and several politicians urged O'Leary to apologise or withdraw the remarks and to engage with experts on the issue.
- Ryanair did not respond to requests for comment, leaving any formal corporate response or consequences unresolved and exposing the airline to further reputational and governance scrutiny.