Broadcaster Ryan Tubridy has said that RTÉ Director General Kevin Bakhurst may ultimately have done him a favour by releasing him from his contract in the aftermath of the 2023 payments controversy.
Speaking on RTÉ’s Sunday with Miriam programme today, Mr Tubridy said, “I’ve had a very different life since then,” reports RTE.
“I’m a very different person to the one you would have met two and a half years ago,” reports RTE.
‘I’ve had a very different life since then – London, new opportunities, new friends, new places to be, time to breathe. I think I felt a sense of liberation [when he left RTÉ]. I’ve got loads of things going on [now],” he explained, reports RTE.
Mr Tubridy departed RTÉ in 2023 after weeks of controversy linked to the broadcaster’s public under-reporting of payments made to him.
Two months later, RTÉ Director General Kevin Bakhurst said there were “no plans” for the presenter to return to RTÉ Radio 1, reports RTE.
Speaking today, Mr Tubridy said there are many things he would approach differently in hindsight and that he accepts responsibility for his role in the 2023 payments controversy that resulted in his exit from RTÉ.
“In reality, looking back on everything, I would be inclined to examine things a little closer and say, well, look, maybe we should look at this and look at that. And, you know, there was a kind of bizarre sequence of events that led to where we got to in the end,” reports RTE.
“I will take responsibilty for my mistakes,” Mr Tubridy said, “but I respectfully contend that there was a wall of scandal and I was just a brick in that wall,” reports RTE.
Mr Tubridy said he welcomed Mr Bakhurst’s acknowledgement that RTÉ bears most of the responsibility for what occurred during the payments controversy.
“Although I also accept responsibility for my part,” Mr Tubridy added, reports RTE.
Mr Tubridy also noted that he has repaid €150,000 to RTÉ, despite having no legal requirement to do so.
“The real thing I messed up on,” he said, “is that I did not step up in 2020 and correct incorrect salary statements that were published then,” reports RTE.
“We didn’t have any notice that this was to be published,” he said, “but I should have gone and looked at the number and said that doesn’t tally with that,” reports RTE.
“I should have stood up and said that’s not right. That was definitely my bad and and I regret that,” Mr Tubridy added, reports RTE.
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