O'Leary apologises 'unreservedly' over 'rapist' comments

Chief Executive of Ryanair Michael O'Leary has offered a sincere and unreserved apology for his use of the term "high-fare rapists" when referring to competitors of the airline company. The comments came ahead of the airline's annual general meeting in Dublin last week, which drew accusations that O'Leary was trivializing the issue of rape.

In a video posted on YouTube, O'Leary acknowledged that the term had caused significant upset and offense, particularly to victims and survivors of rape. He expressed deep regret for the hurt he had caused and vowed that such an incident would not occur again. Initially, O'Leary refused to apologize, maintaining that comparing other airlines to rapists was completely appropriate.

However, he later recognized the impact of his words and issued the apology. The Dublin Rape Crisis Centre had urged O'Leary to apologize, emphasizing that his comments could contribute to trivializing sexual violence. Following the CEO's apology, the center's former CEO, Noeline Blackwell, praised his remarks as a "clear, good apology."

Blackwell highlighted the importance of conversations and speaking out against poor behavior to bring about change. She expressed hope that O'Leary's apology would contribute to a broader public understanding of the impact of language and the seriousness of sexual violence. The center remains committed to ensuring that victims and survivors are treated with dignity and respect.