What would you do if a colleague was abusing drink or drugs?
The Minister for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs believes that firstly a colleague should “talk to them, confront them (the alleged offender)” and then “if necessary make sure their employer knows”.
Interestingly he believes this should be done on the grounds of suspicion, not hard proof, “particularly” in the case of cocaine use. This could potentially lead to some very interesting claims for defamation should an ungrounded allegation be made. It’s not hard to suspect that some people would make false claims against a work rival in the hope that some mud would stick; it could be very detrimental to somebody’s career prospects if people believed that there is no smoke without fire, even if the subject of the claim was cleared of any wrongdoing. It could happen simply because one person doesn’t like another.
Can you imagine, given that Carey’s comments arose in the aftermath of the controversy about RTÉ’s coverage of Gerry Ryan’s inquest, how RTÉ would have reacted had someone made an allegation of cocaine use against Ryan while he was alive? Before RTÉ would have conducted an investigation, that probably would have had to have involved drug-testing of Ryan, it is most likely that it would have required some hard evidence from the accuser to support the allegation before putting it to the subject. In recent weeks much of the extensive newspaper coverage of the aftermath of the inquest has been driven by the extraordinary claims made by former RTÉ employee Gareth O’Callaghan. He claims that he knew all along.
The most incredible of his claims, not withstanding Ryan’s now known use of the drug, is one that Ryan snorted cocaine before co-presenting the Eurovision Song Contest in Dublin back in 1994. Tellingly, O’Callaghan did not witness this event however. Somebody, unnamed, apparently told him this. That is the basis for nothing and would not have stood up had he made it at the time or later while Ryan was still alive. Frankly, the claim does not seem very credible, even given what we know now. Whatever his addictions and faults Ryan was a dedicated professional and it is most unlikely that he would have risked consuming that type of drug before the lengthy programme that the Eurovision is.
If O’Callaghan knew as much as he claims about Ryan’s behaviour — or was as concerned about it as he claims — it also raises questions as to why he did not try to help Ryan when he was alive, or, if giving help was not something that interested him, report Ryan to relevant authorities.
Of course, it could be that O’Callaghan would have feared adverse consequences had his claims not been entertained or, after examination, been found to be false. It is not without risk to be a whistleblower, especially if it is done incorrectly, or against somebody of value to an organisation that it wants to protect. But of what those who may have known within RTÉ or, at least, suspected Ryan’s secret? The suggestions have been that should have moved against Ryan. Cocaine use is illegal after all. But to inform on somebody could have been to cost Ryan his job or livelihood rather than helping him. Who would do that to a friend, or even colleague, especially unless they had direct, irrefutable evidence?
The issue of alcohol abuse is somewhat different however and this has been largely overlooked in much of the furore about the circumstances of Ryan’s death. Alcohol use is legal of course but clearly Ryan had major issues involving excessive consumption, which would have been more immediately obvious to his friends and colleagues. (
I have heard that some people did try to take issue with Ryan about his drinking by way of personal appeal but again the idea of making an issue of it with senior figures within RTÉ would not have been considered as the right way to go. That is not the Irish way in general.
I was fascinated and encouraged by the fact that Carey twice mentioned alcohol in the same sentence as illegal drugs during an interview I conducted with him on Tuesday’s Last Word programme. Earlier in the day, during another radio interview, he had concentrated on cocaine use. “Sometimes it’s too late to find out if you are sure or not (about somebody’e else use) because unfortunately one sniff of cocaine can be your first and your last,” he said.
But the same could be said of legal alcohol use. How many young people have been killed because of fights that arose from excessive alcohol use? Or have been knocked down and killed by passing cars because they staggered drunkenly onto the road? Or have choked on their own vomit after drinking too much? How many older people have died of illnesses caused directly by their alcohol intake? What about the deaths, especially from domestic incidents, that have arisen because of excessive alcohol consumption? How many car accidents are the result of drunken driving?
Carey acknowledged in his interview with me that he would regard confronting people with alcohol problems as being as important as facing up to drug users. He said he has done so, difficult as it was and damaging as it can be to relationships with those people. But he would not be drawn when I asked if he would do so with a cabinet colleague. And this is understandable.
How could Carey, as a minister depending on the Taoiseach for his position, talk to Brian Cowen about his own drinking of a legally available product for example?
And so it is easier to understand why people in RTÉ might have been reluctant to tackle Ryan, a highly-paid superstar who generated massive revenues for 2FM, about his private consumption of a legal product. If that was difficult then how would they have broached the issue of cocaine use?
Carey must also understand why it was that RTÉ presenters and programme makers were so reluctant to engage in lengthy discussion or condemnation of their late friend and colleague after the inquest results were released. They must have been in shock, embarrassed too by what was revealed, angry even with their friend for what he had done to himself. Fianna Fáil ministers in particular should be understanding of that. Remember the unwillingness of Fianna Fáil to discuss the issue of Cowen’s drinking after the Morning Ireland interview last September in which famously he was “worse for wear”. Fellow Fianna Fáil ministers took a decision to defend An Taoiseach. It raised legitimate questions about his consumption on other occasions, and as to his ability to do his job properly.
It is true that the media did not spare Cowen at the time and that it — and not just RTÉ — may have pulled its punches when it came to condemning Ryan. But there is a grieving family to be thought of too, to whom the inquest must have added to the pain. The RTÉ approach in dealing with the inquest findings may have been far from perfect, but they can be understood.
The Last Word with Matt Cooper is broadcast on 100-102 Today FM, Monday to Friday, 4.30pm to 7pm.
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