Man questioned after Late Late show interrupted

An audience member who disrupted last night’s Late Late Show on RTÉ has been released after questioning, gardaí said today.

A garda spokesman said a file would be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions on the brief interruption to the world's longest-running chat show.

The Dublin man in his 50s ran from his seat in RTÉ’s Studio One and began shouting obscenities at presenter Pat Kenny before being removed by security staff.

Television chiefs immediately pulled the plug on the show when it became clear what was happening and broke for advertisements for two minutes.

A man was later arrested by officers from Donnybrook Garda Station who detained him for questioning until about midnight.

“A file on the matter will be prepared for the DPP,” a Garda spokeswoman said today.

Mr Kenny had just introduced three guests, who are judges in a music talent contest programme You're A Star, which also goes out on the state-owned channel RTÉ One, when the alert began.

Mr Kenny took over as host of the station’s flagship show seven years ago from Gay Byrne who had been the presenter since 1962.

Although its influence has waned in recent times it was once considered a major catalyst for social change in Ireland.

It often courted controversy by openly tackling once taboo issues such as divorce, contraception and abortion in what was then a devoutly Roman Catholic state.

It was also known for attracting major music acts and showbusiness stars as well as world leaders. U2, Noel Gallagher, Peter Sellers, Bob Geldof, Mother Teresa, Rod Stewart and Roy Keane are just some of the guests who have appeared on the show during its past four decades.

“Production personnel went immediately to a commercial break while security personnel removed the man from the set,” an RTÉ spokesman said.