RTÉ presenter Gerry Ryan has been found dead at his home in Dublin.
Ryan (53) was found dead by a friend in a bedroom at his apartment at Upper Leeson Street in Donnybrook this afternoon.
Gardaí are investigating but they said there was no evidence of a break-in and foul play is not suspected. The cause of death is unknown.
In a brief statement issued on their behalf by RTÉ, Ryan’s family said
they were in shock. "Gerry Ryan died today," it said. "Morah and his children are in complete shock. Please respect their privacy at this time."
RTÉ said it learned of Ryan’s sudden death “with profound sadness”. It added: “The thoughts and prayers of all RTÉ staff are with Gerry Ryan’s family and his friends."
In a statement Ryan’s agent Noel Kelly described the death as a “huge loss to Irish broadcasting”.
He said: “I have known Gerry for over ten years and he was always genuine, generous and Gerry!“
"Gerry was my colleague and he was my friend and I will miss him,” he added.
Ryan was born in Dublin and worked an apprentice solicitor after studying law at Trinity College Dublin. He joined RTÉ in 1979 after cutting his broadcasting teeth as a rock and pop music DJ on pirate radio in Dublin.
He initially shared a late night slot with Dave Fanning and Mark Cagney before being appointed to present the immensely popular Gerry Ryan Show on 2fm in 1988. The show attracted a daily audience of some 300,000 listeners.
In addition to his radio work, the controversial broadcaster presented a host of television programmes, including Ryan Confidential, Gerry Ryan Tonight, Ryantown, Gerry Ryan's Hitlist and Operation Transformation.
He co-presented the 1994 Eurovision Song Contest from Dublin's Point Theatre and replaced Pat Kenny for an edition of The Late Late Show in 2008. He published his autobiography - Would the Real Gerry Ryan Please Stand Up - in 2008.
The broadcaster said in March 2008 he was separating from his wife Morah after 26 years of marriage. The couple have five children.
Ryan did not present his 2fm radio show
this morning. RTÉ Radio’s managing director Claire Duignan said today he had complained of being unwell last night and told colleagues he did not think he would be able to do his show today. “When he spoke with people to say he wouldn’t be in today, they obviously expressed concern and asked did he need a doctor or anything like that,” she said. “But he said no, he was fine, but he wouldn’t be in today.”
His body was found at his home at about 1pm. There was a heavy media presence outside Ryan’s basement apartment this afternoon. A doctor arrived at about 3pm and left within 20 minutes. An undertakers’ ambulance arrived shortly after 3.45pm. At 4.15pm, Ryan’s body was removed through the basement doorway and placed in the ambulance, which left the scene accompanied by an unmarked Garda car.
President Mary McAleese led tributes to Ryan, describing him as "an extraordinarily talented broadcaster whose unique communication skills and larger than life persona entertained and enlivened a national audience over many years".
Taoiseach Brian Cowen said he was "a broadcaster of immense talent and popularity.”
Ryan was consistently one of RTÉ’s most popular presenters, reflected in the fact he was the station’s second highest paid broadcaster with a salary in 2008 of €558,000.