Angry eco warrior hijacks Ryanair's AGM
Michael O'Leary heard Rob Mac of Plane Mad accuse him of lying about climate change during the AGM disruption
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CLIMATE change campaigners gave the master of the zany photo-op, Michael O'Leary, a taste of his own medicine when they hijacked Ryanair's AGM to launch a boisterous attack on his environmental record.
Leading the charge was a topless Rob Mac from Lahinch, in Co Clare, who had the message "exposing Michael O'Leary's lies" emblazoned in black paint across his chest.
Striding towards the podium as the airline boss was starting his speech, the eco-warrior declared CO2 emissions from aircraft are negating all other efforts to cut greenhouse gases.
A bemused Mr O'Leary retorted that his prize herd of 400 cattle probably emit more CO2 than one aircraft and that he'd give up an aircraft quicker.
After a good-natured exchange and having made his point, the semi-nude activist left the conference room of the Radisson Hotel, at Dublin Airport, and joined his fellow campaigners who included a pair of "eco-clowns".
They later unfurled a banner reading "Lyin Air" from the hotel roof but, with a gusty wind blowing, it was decided to move the protest to a more sheltered balcony.
Speaking after the incident, spokesperson for the Plane Mad group Tara Sheehy admitted they had borrowed a few of Mr O'Leary's attention-grabbing tactics.
"He's a ballsy man but sometimes he fails to realise that two can play at that game, especially when such a serious issue as climate change is at stake," she said.
The protest was the first from the recently established group which will be targeting more polluters in the future.
"By dismissing the clearly proven link between man-made emissions and our changing climate, Michael O'Leary is running from the truth. Sticking our heads in the sand and trying to deny that there is a problem will not make climate change go away," Ms Sheehy added.
Meanwhile, the Ryanair chief executive later issued a statement in which he called for a repeat protest next year.
"I hope next year instead of a semi-naked bloke, they send a semi-naked girl to the AGM. She would probably make as little sense as this guy this morning, but at least she'd be more attractive.
"Clearly maths wasn't this guy's strongest suit, given that Ryanair carries 60m passengers, not the 12m he claimed. Perhaps they should call themselves the "Plain Stupid" instead of the "Plane Mad" group.
"Some of these eco-nuts, who advocate even more tax on air travel, are not the sharpest knives in the drawer," he added.
He said the airline would be sending him a copy of the EU's Environmental Agency report which found that air transport accounted for less than 2pc of Europe's CO2 emissions and was not the cause of global warming.
"I hope, in return, he'll send me some of what he's been smoking on the Costa del Clare," Mr O'Leary quipped.
- Breda Heffernan
