- Michael O’Leary writes open letter to Dublin Rape Crisis Centre CEO
- O’Leary states he answered that rape is a heinous crime
- O’Leary refuses to issue apology or accept training offer
- O’Leary states claim of dismissive attitudes is false and defamatory
- Letter responds to correspondence sent on 10 September 2026
Michael O’Leary has written an open letter to Rachel Morrogh, Chief Executive Officer of the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre, in response to her letter sent by email late on 10 September 2026. O’Leary stated that her letter wrongly claims he dodged a question about whether remarks were offensive to victims of rape and whether they trivialised rape. O’Leary stated that he was asked what he thought of rape and answered that it was a heinous crime.
O’Leary stated that he was also asked if describing high fare competitor airlines as high fare rapists trivialised the crime of rape, and he was clear in his view that it did not. He stated that no remarks of his could trivialise the crime of rape. O’Leary stated that Morrogh is free to hold a different opinion and they are free to disagree, but since he clearly did not trivialise the crime of rape, he would not be issuing any apology or accepting the offer of training.
O’Leary stated that Morrogh’s claim that his remarks perpetuate dismissive attitudes to survivors of rape is false and defamatory when he clearly asserted in the same question and answer session with the media that rape is a heinous crime and accordingly its survivors are victims of a heinous crime.
Michael O’Leary, Ryanair Group Chief Executive, shared: “I refer to your letter sent by email late on Thurs 10 Sept. Your letter wrongly claims that I dodged a question about whether it was offensive to victims of rape and whether it trivialized rape. I did not. I was asked what I thought of rape, and answered that it was a heinous crime. I could not have been clearer. I certainly did not trivialize the crime of rape as you wrongly claim. I was also asked if describing high fare competitor airlines as high fare rapists somehow trivialized the crime of rape, and I was clear in my view that it did not. I am quite clear that no remarks of mine could possibly trivialise the heinous crime of rape. You are entirely free to hold a different opinion and we are free to disagree. But since I clearly did not trivialize the heinous crime of rape, I will certainly not be issuing any apology or accepting your offer of training. Finally, your claim that my remarks yesterday perpetuate dismissive attitudes to survivors of rape is both false and defamatory when I clearly asserted in the same Q&A with the media that rape is a heinous crime and accordingly its survivors are victims of a heinous crime.”
