Patricia Ryan: ‘City of Culture backlash didn’t force me out’

Limerick City of Culture’s former chief executive, Patricia Ryan, said the decision to quit was hers alone and that she was not forced out following the public and media backlash.

Speaking after tendering her resignation on Sunday afternoon, Ms Ryan said she was sad that she had to go.

Ms Ryan said she took the decision herself, without consulting anybody, and informed family and board members on Sunday afternoon.

She also confirmed that she met with a senior detective at Henry Street Garda Station over alleged hacking of voice messages on her phone, which she claims led to the premature leaking of her resignation announcement.

However, she admitted she felt “no bitterness or animosity”.

Ms Ryan, speaking to the Irish Examiner said: “I am sad as I was looking forward to the challenge and I felt things were going well.”

Ms Ryan’s appointment by Limerick city/county manager Conn Murray, without the post being advertised, led to claims of cronyism as the City of Culture board is chaired by Pat Cox, for whom Ms Ryan worked when he was president of the European Parliament.

She was also singled out for criticism at a public meeting on Friday night.

In her first interview since she stepped down, Ms Ryan said: “I was very proud and honoured to have been given the position. But life moves on.”

Describing the experience as “really exiting”, Ms Ryan said: “It is a very exciting programme and definitely it must continue full [steam] ahead. I will support it in whatever way I can. It should and must continue. I hope that Limerick will be able to look back with pride on the year of culture.”

Ms Ryan confirmed she has agreed to stay on in an interim role until a new chief executive is installed and does not envisage a problem in finding a replacement. “I will be staying on for some weeks and will assist in whatever way I can, 100%,” she said.

“I have a pile of meetings arranged and I will be fulfilling all of these.

“I have received hundreds of messages of support and this is very important to me as I don’t feel as though I am on my own.”

Ms Ryan did not comment further on the alleged hacking of her phone, but a friend told the Irish Examiner: “Patricia says she knows the identity of the hacker. It seems the hacker got access to a voice message from one of her family which indicated that she had made a decision to leave her post as City of Culture CEO.

“Patricia met with a member of the Garda at Henry Street. She has not formally made a complaint as this would have meant that she would have to hand over her mobile phone.”