The public announcement of president Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh's resignation became yet another controversial episode in the whole saga.
The president was furious with RTÉ for breaking the embargo of 6pm on October 24th by announcing the news on the afternoon news headlines.
In a note on the incident, the secretary to the president, Mr M Ó Flaitheartaigh, records the head of news at RTÉ as saying to him in a phone call:
"I rang up to offer the president and you our apologies for the unethical announcement of your press release in advance of the embargo time.
"Our political correspondent, Seán Duignan, was told earlier from the Áras that there would be an announcement at 3pm and he had left.
"But some of the news editors, going out to lunch, after preparing the 1.30 news, saw the letter addressed to the news editor with the stamp of Áras an Uachtaráin, anticipated its contents, opened it, tore off the English portion and sent it out on the air.
"But," arsa mise, "the embargo was written clearly in English too and the English text was given as 'Translation'. How does that stand with the ethics of news editors in doing what you say they did?
"Well," ar seisean, "I can only say that they did not realise or did not read the whole. I have no reason to put forward for that; it was wrong and I have told you honestly what happened.
"On behalf of Radio Éireann, I offer sincere apologies and hope their inadvertent breaking of the embargo did not cause difficulties or problems with persons who should have the news first from the Áras.
"Dúirt mé leis: I do not know yet the full extent of my problems, but I have come to be convinced of something: I always felt that one cannot put his faith in news men. The next time I shall recall, I hope, that extra wisdom. Meanwhile I am grateful that, at least, you were gentlemanly enough to telephone your apologies.
"Go raibh maith agat."