'We don't need RTÉ': Public complain about broadcaster following Ryan Tubridy pay scandal 

There were multiple messages about payments of the TV licence with one person saying they had paid 'diligently' but could no longer justify it.

The department responsible for RTÉ was flooded with angry letters from the public demanding the station’s management be sacked, asking why Ryan Tubridy had been scapegoated, and with promises to boycott the TV licence.

Letters sent to Culture Minister Catherine Martin reveal the depth of feeling about RTÉ’s spending controversy with one saying they were delighted the “cesspit” in Montrose had been exposed.

Others were highly critical of Ryan Tubridy saying he had never been worth the salary he was paid in the first place.

An angry email said: “It didn’t really matter to the people whether his salary was fully declared or not. It was the amount of the salary … in times when listeners can’t pay bills, can’t eat properly, can’t pay their mortgages.”

 Another claimed Mr Tubridy’s downfall had been “divine payback” for not dealing with a complaint they had made about The Late Late Show and warning the “gravy train” to RTÉ should not be extended.

One person claimed it was a disgrace the way Mr Tubridy had been treated by station management and by colleagues in the broadcaster.

“I am not related to Ryan and never met him but if Mr [Kevin] Bakhurst thinks by sacking Ryan all those who have not paid their television licence will pay now he is in for a shock,” they said.

An angry email said: 'It didn’t really matter to the people whether (Ryan Tubridy's) salary was fully declared or not. It was the amount of the salary … in times when listeners can’t pay bills, can’t eat properly, can’t pay their mortgages.'

Ms Martin was also attacked over saying the Irish people had a “sense of trust” in RTÉ saying this did not exist outside of the “D4 bubble”.

The person wrote: “Six months for handpicked professionals to ‘examine’ the fiasco is classic Fine Gael/Fianna Fáil orchestration. It seems the Greens are learning fast.”

 Another person wrote: “I have actually been paying the licence fee faithfully — and a big chunk of it going to RTÉ to pay for their designer flip flops, their days at the races, their big wigging in corporate boxes and so on when I have had weeks where I have had to do my grocery shop with only €30 in my purse."

Other messages said RTÉ was no longer working effectively as a public service broadcaster and was “visibly conflicted” by its commercial interests.

They wrote: “We don't need, or want, RTÉ, in its current format. That's evident by low viewing figures for much of its programming, reducing numbers paying their licence fees, and public reaction.”

 One person said they had never before written to a government minister but felt compelled because of the “flippant way” in which taxpayer money was being used.

“I have to pay €160 every year for the privilege of not watching or listening to anything that comes out of RTÉ and paying massive wages to ‘stars’ who wouldn't get a look in at any other media venue,” said a message.

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There were multiple messages about payments of the TV licence with one person saying they had paid “diligently” but could no longer justify it.

“Renewal time comes around the same time as my girls need new school shoes in August and to be honest sometimes it [the licence payment] wins rather than the shoes,” they explained.

“I wish to advise that I will NOT be paying the TV licence this year. Enough is ENOUGH.”