RTÉ WAS forced yesterday to clarify that Minister for Health and Children Mary Harney had not resigned after a satirical television programme put out the rumour that she had.
RTÉ’s political correspondent David McCullagh did not see the funny side of presenter Jennifer Maguire turning up outside the gates of Leinster House yesterday morning asking politicians if they had heard the rumours of Ms Harney’s resignation. A tweet putting out the rumour was also sent.
The vox-pops were meant as a spoof for the Republic of Tellyprogramme which airs on RTÉ Two on Wednesday nights. McCullagh remonstrated with the reporter involved and made a complaint about it to RTÉ.
RTÉ then issued a statement on the News at Onewhich read: "RTÉ Television wishes to clarify that during the recording this morning of an item for the satirical RTÉ Two show Republic of Telly, a suggestion was made that Minister for Health Mary Harney was rumoured to be resigning. RTÉ wishes to clarify that this was a prank and is untrue."
McCullagh declined to comment but an RTÉ newsroom source said the item was “massively inappropriate” given the seriousness of the predicament facing the State at present.
A spokesman for the Minister said they made no complaint and Ms Harney was in the Dáil at the time. “It shows you how viral this Twitter stuff is when serious journalists start to follow up on this nonsense because some comedienne sent out a tweet about it.”
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