To many people Michael O'Leary 'IS' Ryanair, and how he comes across in the media has a direct effect on how these people view the company, there are many people who refuse to fly RYR simply because of the loathing they have for this man and his attitude to his customers (and staff).
Quite possibly very true - and such people's refusal to fly Ryanair has
absolutely nothing to do with any 'safety fears' of the type misreported by the European press.
The airline's shareholders are probably happy, but at the expense of whom?