Dublin Rape Crisis calls on O'Leary to apologise

Dublin Rape Crisis Centre has called on Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary to apologise for using the term "rapists" when speaking about the airline's competitors.

"We really want Michael O'Leary to apologise and to set a tone from the top, to say that he realises that the comments that he made were inappropriate and they were wrong," Rachel Morrogh, Dublin Rape Crisis Centre Chief Executive, said.

"We also want him to accept Dublin Rape Crisis Centre's offer of training so he can understand the harmful impacts of his words."

Ms Morrogh said that the National Rape Crisis Helpline had seen an increase in calls after Mr O'Leary made the remarks.

She called Mr O'Leary's comments comparing other airlines to rapists "lazy" and "uninformed".

"It feels like Mr O'Leary is chasing soundbites 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.

"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," said Ms Morrogh.

'Completely inappropriate and deeply offensive'

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."

Éist, a midlands-based support and advocacy organisation for victims of sexual and gender-based violence, said that there were countless ways to criticise competitors "without reaching for the language of sexual violence".

In a statement, the group said their work is about challenging the normalisation and minimisation of sexual violence, adding that "language is part of that conversation".

The group said it would ask public figures and organisations to consider why terminology describing one of the most serious forms of violence is considered appropriate shorthand for something as ordinary as the price of an airline ticket.

People Before Profit-Solidarity TD Ruth Coppinger 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 soundbite and get covered in the media in relation to other airlines.

"To say that it wasn't offensive - it's offensive to victims and survivors of rape and sexual assault.

"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."

Ms Coppinger said Mr O'Leary should "apologise" and "withdraw" the remarks.

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 called on Mr O'Leary to apologise for his comments.

"The casual use of the world 'rapist' to describe prices of his competitors is deeply shocking and could be traumatising for any survivor of sexual abuse," she said.

"It is shameful to see O'Leary diminish the real experience of these survivors in such a way."

Fianna Fáil senator for Dublin Fingal West Lorraine Clifford-Lee said Mr O'Leary's comments were "disgusting" and "represent a new low".

"This goes far beyond being provocative or controversial. It shows an extraordinary lack of empathy for victims and survivors of rape and sexual violence," she said.

Ms Clifford-Lee added: "This appears to be another attempt by Michael O'Leary to say whatever he can to grab a headline. However, in doing so, he has shown a complete lack of decency and respect for survivors of rape and sexual violence.

"He should withdraw these remarks and apologise to the survivors who will quite understandably have been hurt and angered by them."