Ní Bheoláin attacks ‘disgraceful rags’ over photos

RTÉ news presenter Sharon Ní Bheoláin has branded tabloid newspapers who published photos of her in the aftermath of her recent stalker scare as “disgraceful rags”.

She also claimed media reports of the arrest of a man suspected of stalking her and sending her pornographic material may threaten any future criminal prosecution.

Photos of Ms Ní Bheoláin in casual attire including pyjama bottoms while out shopping and walking a dog near her north Dublin home over the weekend appeared in a number of tabloid newspapers yesterday.

Ms Ní Bheoláin said she was angry that the media “kerfuffle” may have tampered with an ongoing Garda investigation and that the stalking of her by paparazzi was “deeply disturbing and upsetting”.

She is concerned it poses a risk to a successful criminal prosecution as she believes there was more than one person involved in the alleged harassment.

It emerged last week that gardaí had arrested a 37-year-old male from Portmarnock over allegations Ms Ní Bheoláin had been sent lewd material via email. The man was released without charge pending a file being sent to the DPP.

Speaking on RTÉ Radio 1’s Liveline, the 43-year-old broadcaster said she was more upset about the photos than any threat posed by a stalker. “The harassment business hasn’t knocked a feather out of me,” she said. “I’m more upset this morning than at any stage over the last six weeks.”

Ms Ní Bheoláin said she regarded what happened as regards her alleged stalker as an occupational hazard, but admitted she was “naïve and stupid” to go outside her home “looking like Johnny Fortycoats” and “a dog’s dinner”.

Ms Ní Bheoláin stressed she never set herself up as a supermodel and was just “a regular Joe Soap” who lived a very ordinary lifestyle and was “not a Kardashian”.