Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary apologises over 'high-fare rapists' remarks

Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary has said he is "truly sorry" for describing rival airlines as "high-fare rapists".

He had previously refused to apologise to a rape crisis centre which criticised him for the comments.

O'Leary had made the remark earlier this month while talking to journalists ahead of Ryanair's yearly meeting with shareholders.

Following the comments, the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre (DRCC) wrote to him asking for an apology, in a letter seen by the BBC.

O'Leary had originally said that some people were "desperate to get to Ryanair's low fares because they can't afford to fly with the high-fare rapists around Europe".

He subsequently defended his choice of words when asked by a reporter from the Press Association whether the language was appropriate.

"British Airways, Lufthansa, and everybody else's high fares, I'll happily offend them on a regular basis," he had added.

Asked whether it would offend sexual assault victims, he said rape was "a terrible crime".

In a video posted on Friday, O'Leary said that, over the last ten days, he had had "conversations with family and friends, both inside and outside Ryanair".

"I have come to realise however that the word that I used so carelessly has caused considerable upset and offence to a wide number of people, especially to victims and survivors.

"I want to apologise, sincerely and unreservedly, to those people, especially to the survivors."

O'Leary described his choice of language as "careless", and said "it won't happen again".