Irish Times living in a fantasy land, says Waters

IRISH TIMES columnist John Waters has accused the board of directors of the newspaper of living in a fantasy land of high living while presiding over swingeing cutbacks and massive staff redundancies.

Mr Waters, whose recent column on the issue was withdrawn by editor Geraldine Kennedy, said the newspaper risked its credibility if it continued to highlight the deficiencies of other organisations while ignoring its own.

He said the decision by the directors to award themselves over €3.3 million, along with a large annual bonus to former editor Conor Brady, had created “dismay” among staff.

“If that was happening in another institution we would be following it. It is not being reflected in the paper,” said Mr Waters, speaking on yesterday’s News at One on RTÉ.

“Last year was cataclysmic for The Irish Times. One-third of all staff were made redundant and there were swingeing cutbacks. Then it emerged the board members had voted themselves fees of about €300,000 a piece.

“There was also a secret deal done with the former editor to pay him €100,000-a-year index-linked for the next 14 years. This was done when the cutbacks extended even to the complementary newspaper sent out in the post every morning to journalists and other staff members,” he said.

Mr Waters said the reaction among staff was “complete outrage, horror and disbelief” on realising that the cuts they volunteered to make facilitated the large payments to board members.”

Mr Waters said he had first been informed his column had been cleared for publication but then the editor rang to say she was not going to publish it on the grounds that it was inaccurate, tasteless and libellous.

“I want to rebut those three allegations. I have been 14 years in The Irish Times writing a trenchant and controversial column and I have not attracted one libel suit. Isn’t it strange that this issue should arrive in relation to The Irish Times itself?” he said.

He added that while he believed Ms Kennedy to be a highly-ethical journalist, he felt she had been compromised by the situation she inherited.

Mr Waters also objected to what he saw as a drift from an ethic of public service towards a corporate culture, emanating from the boardroom.

“They are operating in a fantasy land to which we as journalists do not belong. We go around in anoraks and bicycle clips while they swish through in large cars. We need to address these issues; otherwise the credibility of The Irish Times is on the line,” he said.

The managing director of the newspaper was not available to respond to Mr Waters’ remarks. The editor said she did not wish to comment.