RTE to open book of condolence for Ryan family

RTE will open a book of condolence for Gerry Ryan's family later today.

The 53-year-old broadcaster was found dead at his Dublin apartment yesterday afternoon.

There has been an outpouring of public support for his colleagues and family since his death, including tributes by Gay Byrne, Pat Kenny, Joe Duffy, Brenda Donoghue and Dave Fanning on the Late Late Show last night (see the RTE player at http://www.rte.ie/player/#).

Described by the chairman of the RTE authority Tom Savage as a 'phenomenon', the 53-year-old had a career spanning more than decades.

The father-of-five was found dead by his partner yesterday afternoon after calling in on Thursday night to say he did not feel well and was not sure he would be able to make it in yesterday morning.

A post mortem will be carried out to determine the cause of death, but gardaí are not treating his death as suspicious.

The book of condolence will be open to the public from noon to 6pm this evening at RTE's radio centre in Montrose in Dublin.