RTÉ refuses to rule out disciplinary action

RTÉ has refused to rule out taking disciplinary action against any staff after the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland decision to uphold a complaint by Seán Gallagher about the station’s use of a controversial tweet during a TV presidential election debate last year.

A tweet, read out by Frontline presenter Pat Kenny during the programme last October, was incorrectly described as being issued by the official campaign of Sinn Féin presidential candidate Martin McGuinness.

The tweet, referring to Mr Gallagher’s past relationship with Fianna Fáil, is believed to have impacted negatively on the businessman’s election performance. He began the debate as frontrunner in opinion polls but ultimately finished a distant second to Michael D Higgins.