Michael O’Leary calling competing airline companies ‘rapists’ lead to ‘totally free marketing’ for Ryanair

Tourism

Tánaiste Simon Harris stated Michael O’Leary “understands precisely what he’s at” which his remarks calling competing airline companies “rapists” has actually led to “totally free marketing” for Ryanair.

Speaking to press reporters at the start of the two-day Fine Gael think-in in Gorey, Co Wexford, Mr Harris did not state whether he thought he must apologise for the remarks.

He did, nevertheless, explain them as an “unsuitable usage of language”.

“Michael O’Leary is plainly among our nation’s finest entrepreneurs, however maybe on this event he ought to listen to the professionals,” the Tánaiste stated.

“The professionals who deal with survivors and victims of rape, sexual attack, unwanted sexual advances in this nation. It is plainly an unsuitable usage of language.

“I likewise believe he understands precisely what he’s at. We’re all here speaking about Ryanair. It is complimentary ad.”

When requested for a 2nd time if he would like Mr O’Leary to apologise, Mr Harris when contacted him to”listen to professionals “and contacted him to”remedy” what he branded an” improper usage of language”.

He continued:”There’s been numerous out today; The Rape Crisis Centre, the National Women’s Council of Ireland, and others. “

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‘Trivialising rape ‘

Earlier today, Mr O’Leary was implicated of “trivialising”rape after consistently explaining competing airline companies as “rapists”.

The outspoken airline company chief utilized the term while assaulting what he referred to as the high fares charged by airline companies consisting of Aer Lingus, Lufthansa and British Airways at an interview in Dublin on Thursday.

He stated it is “definitely” proper to compare other airline companies to “rapists” and informed press reporters at the business’s head office: “You may discover some individuals will select not to fly with Ryanair– however you understand they’ll be overrun with individuals deserting Aer Lingus, Lufthansa, BACHELOR’S DEGREE, and others desperate to get to Ryanair’s low fares since they can’t pay for to fly with the high-fare rapists around Europe.”

Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary at the Ryanair AGM, at their offices in Dublin. Picture date: Thursday September 10, 2026.
Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary at the Ryanair AGM, at their workplaces in Dublin. Image date: Thursday September 10, 2026.

He later on duplicated the”high-fare rapists”remarks.

Asked whether this was proper language, Mr O’Leary informed press reporters: “Absolutely.”

He was then challenged on whether it stank to victims of rape and sexual attack, and he stated he would “gladly upset” the airline companies pointed out.

More continued whether the language was trivialising rape, he stated: “That’s what I call high-fare airline companies like Lufthansa, BACHELOR’S DEGREE, and others.”

His remarks have actually provoked a furious action from survivors of sexual violence and organisations supporting victims.

Survivor Shaneda Daly, whose ex-prison officer daddy Harry Daly has the greatest rape charges in the history of the State for abusing her, stated she wishes to fulfill the Ryanair president to discuss to him the truth of rape and the enduring effect it has on those who experience it.

She stated rape modifications individuals permanently and questioned how such an infraction might be compared to an argument over airline company costs. She explained O’Leary as “even worse than Donald Trump”.

“The offense of your body being permeated by something undesirable and the horror and unthinkable worry that will never ever leave you, being raped modifications you permanently, you will never ever feel safe once again, your psychological health is ruined and how you need to defend the rest of your life to attempt and live every day,” she stated.

Sonya Stokes, a survivor of sexual violence and creator of Victims Voices, stated she was “definitely annoyed” by the remarks.

“Rape is not a metaphor, a punchline or an organization contrast,” she stated, explaining rape as a “truth including injury, worry and repercussions that can last a life time”.

Ms Stokes gotten in touch with Mr O’Leary to openly apologise to victims and survivors of rape and sexual violence.

Another survivor, Laura Witherow, explained Mr O’Leary’s remarks as “disgusting and indefensible”.

She stated rape was “not a punchline, a creative insult or a word to toss around for promotion” and criticised him for continuing to safeguard the language after being challenged about its effect.

Rape Crisis Centre condemns remarks

The Dublin Rape Crisis Centre likewise condemned the remarks.

President Rachel Morrogh stated she was “disappointed” by what Mr O’Leary had actually stated, explaining his remarks as “lazy and uninformed”.

She stated it appeared the Ryanair employer was “going after soundbites without any regard for how they might impact individuals”.

Ms Morrogh cautioned that language from prominent public figures can add to the trivialisation and toleration of sexual violence.

She stated Mr O’Leary’s remarks would be “deeply upsetting and angering” for numerous survivors.

The Dublin Rape Crisis Centre chief stated she would compose to Mr O’Leary and provide him training on the damage brought on by trivialising rape.

She stated that, as one of Ireland’s most popular service figures, he must “lead from the front” in what he states and does.

Ryanair has actually been called for remark.

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