Family was ‘everything’ to Gerry

GERRY RYAN’S life changed beyond recognition in the past two years.

For 26 years, his marriage was considered one of the most rock-solid in Irish social circles and his constant references to Mrs Ryan were one of his broadcasting trademarks.

In 1997, Mrs Ryan famously got her own back on the husband she always called Gerard by ringing up pretending she was “Norah”. Half a million listeners heard a litany of complaints including how he was forever dumping his underpants on the floor, doesn’t put his clothes on hangers, had not cleaned the dog’s mess from the backyard for weeks and never puts the rubbish out. Finishing up, she triumphantly asked the all-believing broadcaster: “You would do that now, wouldn’t you Gerry?”