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Michael O’Leary claimed rising prices at other airlines would see passengers switch to Ryanair
O’Leary ’s description of rival airlines as “high-fare rapists” trivialises sexual violence and hurts victims, the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre has said. Speaking in advance of his airline’s agm on Thursday, O’Leary said it is “absolutely” appropriate to compare other airlines to “rapists”.
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 in Dublin: “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.
”Asked whether this was appropriate language, O’Leary told reporters: “Absolutely. ” Challenged on whether it was offensive to victims of rape and sexual assault, O’Leary said he would “happily offend” the airlines mentioned. Further pressed on whether the language was trivialising rape, he said: “That’s what I call high-fare airlines like Lufthansa, BA, and others. ” Chief executive of Dublin Rape Crisis Centre, Rachel Morrogh, said she was dismayed at O’Leary’s remarks.
“These are lazy and uninformed comments. It feels like Mr O’Leary is chasing sound bites with no regard for how they may affect people. ” “Undoubtedly, the words of high-profile individuals can contribute to trivialising and tolerating sexual violence in our society,” Morrogh said.
“And for many survivors of rape, his words will be deeply hurtful and angering to hear. “I will write to Mr O’Leary to offer him training on how the trivialisation of rape is so harmful. He has verbalised a historical trope and as a leading figure in industry, he should lead from the front in terms of what he says and does.
” Ruth Coppinger, a Socialist Party TD, said: “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 sound bite and get covered in the media in relation to other airlines.
“And to say that it wasn’t offensive, it’s offensive to victims and survivors of rape and sexual assault. “And what he was doing was purely using a word that he knew would get airtime – and no recognition of the fact that women, men, LGBT+ people who’ve been the victims of sexual assault which is at an epidemic level in our society and internationally would feel really insulted by that.
”“This is a really serious problem that’s faced by so many women, so many LGBT+ people – and it is at epidemic levels in our society and internationally. ” Victims’ advocate Caroline Forde accused O’Leary of being “callous” and using “sensational language about a very pervasive and serious issue”. She told Newstalk radio: “He’s doing that while triggering and re-traumatising victims and survivors. Four HSE regions to lose power over day-to-day spendingPaddy Keenan: Bothy Band uilleann piper dies aged 76
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O'Leary Urges Passengers to Switch to Ryanair Amid Rising Airline PricesRyanair CEO Simon O'Leary criticized high-priced competitors during the airline's annual meeting, calling them "high‑fare rapists" and pledging to boldly offend rival carriers. The controversial remarks sparked backlash over their insensitivity and use of rape as a slogan. O'Leary maintains his stance, suggesting customers will flock to Ryanair's low fares. The comments drew criticism for trivializing sexual assault and were seen by many as offensive language.
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