RTÉ inquiry into author’s credibility

THE RTÉ Authority yesterday heard the most senior executive in television deliver a “frank assessment” of the checks carried out on the controversial High Society series.

And it seems the investigation being carried out by the national broadcaster into the series on middle-class cocaine use is much deeper and thorough than previously indicated, and is being personally overseen by managing director Noel Curran.

Serious doubts have been cast on the credibility of the presenter of the documentary Justine Delaney Wilson following contradictory accounts from her as to whether she recorded an interview with a government minister, or took the details down by hand.

Yesterday, the chair of the Authority Mary Finan said she and her colleagues were entirely satisfied with the scope and thoroughness of the investigation being carried out. “[Mr Curran’s] frank assessment of the processes involved in the development of the programme was welcomed. The members look forward to the receipt of his full report as soon as possible,” she said.

Mr Curran told the nine-member authority he intended to have a full report by mid-December.

Ms Delaney Wilson claimed she conducted the interview with a serving minister in a hotel near Leinster House in October 2006. The claim has led to a huge controversy and also prompted several senior Government figures to question its veracity and the author’s credibility.

RTÉ Television launched an internal inquiry this week following a disclosure Ms Delaney Wilson made on a radio programme in early October. Both RTÉ and Gill & Macmillan, the publishers of the book, were of the belief the interview with the politician was taken down by hand. But the author told RTÉ Radio 1’s Drivetime on October 4 she had recorded the interview — her solicitor said this week she had subsequently destroyed the recording.