Ryan Tubridy repays €150,000 at centre of RTÉ pay scandal

By Cate McCurry, PA

Ryan Tubridy has repaid RTÉ a sum of €150,000 he received as part of a controversial payment deal made in 2020.

Mr Tubridy was to be paid a total €225,000 over three years by the national broadcaster as part of a deal to top up his salary, which was not disclosed by RTÉ.

The presenter was paid two instalments of €75,000 by RTÉ for personal appearances for commercial sponsor Renault as part of the contentious deal.

The deal involved Mr Tubridy making three appearances per year at Renault events. RTÉ executives previously said Renault paid Mr Tubridy the first €75,000 payment, but then pulled out of the tripartite deal.

Mr Tubridy left the national broadcaster following weeks of controversy relating to the organisation publicly under-reporting payments to him.

Mr Tubridy was also the long-time host of RTÉ’s flagship Late Late Show.

In a statement issued on behalf of Mr Tubridy on Friday, he said: “Earlier today I made a payment of 150,000 euro to RTE.

“I made this payment through my solicitor, without any discussions with RTE – or with anyone acting on their behalf – and without condition.

“I have said on various occasions that I intended making this payment and I’m happy to have been able to do so today.”

RTÉ director general Kevin Bakhurst previously said he would welcome a repayment of €150,000 from Mr Tubridy and his agent, Noel Kelly, over unfulfilled commercials events the broadcaster had underwritten.

He told an Oireachtas committee in July 2023 that there is probably no legal obligation for them to do so.

Mr Tubridy now presents a show on Virgin Radio UK.