Embattled Ryan Tubridy will no longer host a stellar event marking the 60th anniversary of JFK’s visit to Ireland.
The tarnished RTE star was due to chair today’s official launch of EPIC museum’s exhibition to mark the US President’s trip in June 1963. But in the wake of the RTE payment scandal, he was replaced by journalist Dearbhail McDonald.
JFK enthusiast Tubridy has written a book about the visit and mentioned the event on his radio show in the days before he was taken off air as the controversy deepened. He was set to host a panel that included Tanaiste Micheal Martin, US ambassador Claire Cronin and Stephen Kennedy Smith, son of former US ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith.
A spokesperson for EPIC - the Irish Emigration Museum - said: “Ryan Tubridy will not be in attendance. Dearbhail McDonald will now be moderating the panel.”
Read more: RTE payments scandal: Main points as Dee Forbes in the firing line and Ryan Tubridy 'no wrongdoing'
It takes place today at lunchtime in EPIC in Dublin ’s Custom House Quay. The panel will discuss JFK’s trip here and US-Ireland relations.
The invitation-only event states it is in collaboration with the John F Kennedy Library Foundation and the Department of Foreign Affairs. Meanwhile, Tubridy has suffered a fall from grace in Leinster House after canteen staff said they would remove pictures of the broadcaster.
He visited the Dail many times and was well regarded by workers. One source told the Irish Mirror how disgusted they are with the former Late Late Show host.
One staff member said: “It’s disgraceful, he bloody well made a fool out of all of us paying our licence fee. I’ll be tearing down that picture.
“The amount of people who commented on it, it’s embarrassing. He’s taken us for eejits, it’s not as if he wasn’t getting paid enough already, but he’s lost it now, he’s lost his fans.”
Another Leinster House worker added: “I don’t know if people want to hear him back on the radio at all.”
It comes as Media Minister Catherine Martin has indicated that the State will pay for an external review of RTE rather than sending the bill to the national broadcaster. This is despite the fact RTE under-declared star Ryan Tubridy’s pay for the last five years by €345,000.
The Green Party deputy leader also said it is up to RTE if they want to reveal the salary of the new Late Late presenter Patrick Kielty. Minister Martin briefed Cabinet colleagues yesterday morning about the ongoing pay scandal that has engulfed the national broadcaster.
The terms of reference for the review and who will conduct it are expected to be finalised by the end of the week. When asked if the Government was going to pay or if the bill would be sent to RTE, Minister Martin told the Irish Mirror her Department will “have to work out the cost of that first”.
She said: “I believe in the good to democracy and society that public service broadcasting does.
“I don’t think you can place a price on that. But it’ll be the best value possible.
“We have to remember what we’re trying to restore here is confidence in public service broadcasting, which does a good for democracy and society.
“I think it’s our responsibility to help restore the trust in RTE. If that needs this external review, which I think it does [...] then so be it.”
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