Ireland’s national broadcaster faces an uncertain future after axing its star presenter, Ryan Tubridy, in a scandal over under-declared payments.
RTÉ surprised the public and divided opinion by announcing Tubridy would not return to the airwaves, capping two months of turmoil over accounting and governance practices that has cast doubt on the organisation’s future funding.
Kevin Bakhurst, RTÉ’s director general, said Tubridy was “hugely talented” but had not accepted his role in the debacle and it was time for the organisation “to move on”.
The news dominated headlines and stirred debate about the treatment of the presenter. “Radio Gaga,” said the Star. “Tubridy not coming bak,” said the Mirror, playing on Bakhurst’s name.
It was the latest twist in a saga that erupted in June when RTÉ disclosed it had understated Tubridy’s earnings by €345,000 (£295,000) from 2017 to 2022 in an apparent effort to avoid censure for salaries perceived as lavish.
The scandal widened to RTÉ’s internal financial, accounting and governance practices and what was described as a “slush fund” for corporate hospitality.
Bakhurst, a former BBC and Ofcom executive, was appointed in July. One of his first acts was to sack the executive board.
The fate of Tubridy, 50, who stepped aside pending investigations by auditors and watchdogs, was closely watched. He had hosted a radio show and The Late Late Show. He announced he was stepping down from the latter in March.
The presenter was partially exonerated in several reports, paving an expected return to his popular radio show. But Tubridy angered RTÉ managers this week with a statement disputing the organisation’s interpretation of the undeclared payments.
It torpedoed a provisional deal for Tubridy to return on a reduced salary, said Bakhurst. “Despite having agreed some of the fundamentals, including fee, duration and hours, regretfully, it is my view that trust between the parties has broken down.” The director general did not rule out Tubridy returning in the future.
Commentators said Tubridy would have served his cause better by remaining silent. Some lamented his continued absence from the airwaves. “Ryan Tubridy is a great broadcaster and is an asset to broadcasting and still is. I still think a lot of people would have liked to have heard him back on the air,” said Colm Brophy, a Fine Gael member of parliament.
In TV and radio vox pops some members of the public said RTÉ needed a clean slate and that Tubridy had wrought his own downfall. Others expressed solidarity and said they would not pay the annual €160 (£136) licence fee in protest.
A fall in licence fee revenues since July compared with the same period last year has been partly attributed to public hostility to RTÉ. The broadcaster hopes for a government bailout.
On Friday the presenter Brendan Courtney filled Tubridy’s radio slot. “After all that’s gone on, it is a little strange being here,” he said.
