BROADCASTER GERRY Ryan was “destroyed” by his drug use, family friend Fr Brian D’Arcy told a documentary on the broadcaster’s life which went out on RTÉ last night.
Fr D’Arcy, who delivered the homily at Ryan’s funeral, said “he was a phenomenal communicator not because he could speak well but because he could listen”.
However he had a “shadow” to his life and that was that “anyone who is involved in the purchase or consumption of illegal drugs is involved and is part of criminal activity.
“That has destroyed so many people and the saddest part is it has also destroyed one of the best broadcasters this country has ever known.”
Close friend Harry Crosbie said Ryan lived life “at 300 miles an hour” and when his marriage broke up after 26 years it completely unsettled him. Mr Crosbie added: “He drank way too much. He didn’t have that cut-off. And in the last few years of his life, apart from us, he was lonely.”
Bono told the documentary that Ryan “was the nation’s shrink”. His RTÉ colleague and friend Dave Fanning described him as “irresponsible” and “irresponsible wasn’t always good”.
Broadcaster George Hook whom he interviewed on his TV show Ryan Confidentialdescribed him as "brass, crass and shallow". But he said he got him to say things he probably would not have told others.
The documentary, titled Gerry, detailed the successes and controversies of his career, including the call to his programme by Lavinia Kerwick, who identifed herself and speak publicly about her ordeal.