Ryanair chief Michael O’Leary apologises over describing competitors as ‘rapists’

The chief executive of Ryanair Michael O’Leary has “unreservedly” apologised for the “considerable upset and offence” caused after he compared rival airliners to rapists at a press briefing last week.

His apology on Friday evening came after more than a week of sustained pressure from advocacy groups and fierce criticism from politicians, including the Taoiseach Micheál Martin over the comparison.

It was welcomed by the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre which expressed the hope that it would “promote a greater public understanding of the impact language can have”.

O’Leary’s statement was issued despite the fact that he had previously stood over his comments and suggested he had no reason to apologise.