Ryanair chief’s ‘rapists’ comments inappropriate, Irish deputy premier says

Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary should “rectify” remarks comparing other airlines to rapists, Ireland’s deputy premier said, after the businessman was accused of “trivialising” rape.

Mr O’Leary was heavily criticised by politicians and victims’ campaigners in Ireland and the UK, as well as a union representing staff, after he said it was “absolutely” appropriate to compare competitor airlines to “rapists”.

Mr O’Leary has been asked to withdraw the “disgusting” remarks and apologise for them, with one support group offering him training on “how the trivialisation of rape is so harmful”.

Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary was speaking ahead of the airline’s AGM in Dublin (Clodagh Kilcoyne/PA)

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He made the comment ahead of his airline’s annual general meeting in Dublin on Thursday.

The billionaire businessman claimed rising air travel prices at other airlines would see passengers switch to Ryanair.

He told reporters at the company’s headquarters: “You might find some people will choose not to fly with Ryanair – but you know they’ll be overrun with the people abandoning Aer Lingus, Lufthansa, BA, and others desperate to get to Ryanair’s low fares because they can’t afford to fly with the high-fare rapists around Europe.”

He later repeated the “high-fare rapists” comments.

Asked by the Press Association whether this was appropriate language, Mr O’Leary told reporters: “Absolutely.”

Challenged on whether it was offensive to victims of rape and sexual assault, he said he would “happily offend” the airlines mentioned.

Ruth Coppinger described the comments as ‘disgusting’ (Niall Carson/PA)

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Further pressed on whether the language was trivialising rape, he said: “That’s what I call high-fare airlines like Lufthansa, BA and others.”

He said rape was a “terrible crime” but rejected the assertion he was trivialising rape.

Ireland’s deputy premier Simon Harris said the comments were “clearly an inappropriate use of language” and Mr O’Leary “should have moved to rectify it”.

Asked if he should apologise, Mr Harris told reporters at his Fine Gael party think-in: “I think he should listen to the experts and there’s been many out today.”

Rachel Morrogh, the chief executive of Dublin Rape Crisis Centre, told PA she was “dismayed” at Mr O’Leary’s “lazy and uninformed comments”.

“For many survivors of rape, his words will be deeply hurtful and angering to hear,” she said.

Tánaiste Simon Harris (Clodagh Kilcoyne/PA)

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“I will write to Mr O’Leary to offer him training on how the trivialisation of rape is so harmful.

Rape Crisis England & Wales chief executive, Ciara Bergman, said the comparison was “shameful and embarrassing” as well as “deeply insulting to survivors of rape and sexual abuse”.

She said: “I would be more than happy to meet with Mr O’Leary, CEO to CEO, to explain the work Rape Crisis and our members do to challenge the idea that sexual violence is a topic which can or should be trivialised – ever”.

Katie Kempen, the chief executive at Victim Support in England and Wales said the remarks were “appalling”, “offensive”, “completely unacceptable and deeply insulting to survivors of rape and sexual abuse”.

Ireland’s Public Expenditure Minister and Fianna Fáil deputy leader Jack Chambers said: “I think his comments were shocking, and I support what the National Women’s Council have said and others in condemning his comments, and he should withdraw them.

“We should never put victims in that light in the context of competition in aviation.”

Public Expenditure Minister Jack Chambers (Niall Carson/PA)

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A spokesman for Fórsa, a union representing Ryanair cabin crew in Ireland, described Mr O’Leary’s comments as “deeply inappropriate”.

Ruth Coppinger, a Socialist Party TD in Ireland, told PA: “I think it’s disgusting that Michael O’Leary would trivialise rape and sexual assault by bandying around the word ‘rapists’ in order to get a provocative soundbite and get covered in the media in relation to other airlines.”

Ms Coppinger said Mr O’Leary should “apologise” and “withdraw” the remarks.

The National Women’s Council of Ireland executive director Corrinne Hasson said the remarks about rape are “completely inappropriate and deeply offensive to survivors of sexual violence”.

She added: “Comparing rape to selling airline tickets undermines the experiences and trauma of survivors.

“Flippant comments like this show a lack of understanding about rape culture and form part of the bedrock which allows violence against women to thrive in our society.”

Senator Laura Harmon (Niall Carson/PA)

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Irish Labour senator Laura Harmon called on the Ryanair chief to engage with the Rape Crisis Centre to better understand the “horrific trauma of surviving sexual assault”.

She said: “It is shameful to see O’Leary diminish the real experience of these survivors in such a way.

“Reports conducted by organisations like the National Women’s Council of Ireland often detail the systemic challenges victims of domestic violence are faced with when they look for help – through the courts and the legal system, and through first responders like the Gardaí.

“Having O’Leary make such ignorant comments only adds to this.

“I would urge him to come out and apologise today, and commit to informing himself about the real trauma of sexual violence.”

Ryanair did not respond to a request for comment.

– Dublin Rape Crisis Centre’s National 24 Hour Freephone Helpline is 1800 778888 and the website is drcc.ie.