Ryanair CEO defends 'high-fare rapists' remark

Ryanair's CEO Michael O'Leary has defended his remarks about rival airlines being 'high-fare rapists' in Europe, saying some people are 'desperate to get to Ryanair's low fares because they can't afford to fly with the high-fare rapists around Europe'. O'Leary made the comments on Thursday while talking to journalists ahead of Ryanair's yearly meeting with shareholders.

He said airline passengers 'can't afford to fly with the high-fare rapists around Europe', and that victims of rape are not going to be rushing to book tickets with him, let's be honest.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander told UK radio outlet LBC that victims of rape are 'not going to be rushing to book tickets with him, let's be honest'. O'Leary refused to apologise for his comments, saying they were 'clearly an inappropriate use of language'.

The Dublin Rape Crisis Centre (DRCC) accused O'Leary of trying to get a headline with his comments and offered him training on the impact of sexual violence.

He said rape was 'a terrible crime' and that as he had not trivialised it, he would not be issuing any apology or accepting her offer of training.

He said rape was 'a terrible crime' and that as he had not trivialised it, he would not be issuing any apology or accepting her offer of training.