Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary has refused to apologise after facing widespread condemnation for describing rival airlines, including British Airways and Lufthansa, as "high-fare rapists". The remarks, made ahead of Ryanair's annual general meeting in Dublin, prompted criticism from victims' organisations and politicians in the UK and Ireland, who accused him of trivialising rape and being dismissive towards survivors of sexual violence.

Dublin Rape Crisis Centre chief executive Rachel Morrogh had called for a "swift apology" and offered Mr O'Leary free training on sexual violence, but he rejected this in a published letter, insisting he had called rape a "heinous crime" and describing the centre's criticism as "false and defamatory". UK Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said the comments would cost Ryanair the confidence of sexual assault victims, while Rape Crisis England and Wales and Victim Support also condemned the language as "shameful", "offensive" and "deeply insulting" to survivors. Mr O'Leary had defended using the term when pressed by reporters, saying he would "happily offend" the airlines named and denying he was trivialising rape.