Doubtful heads will roll over RTÉ debacle

ANY inquiry into RTÉ should inspire confidence in its complete independence, with no links between the parties involved.

Neither the BAI inquiry nor that of the Professor Horgan inquiries meet that high standard.

Bob Collins, the boss of the BAI, is a former director general of RTÉ. Professor John Horgan, formerly of the Irish Times and the DCU school of journalism, who is also the author of a book on RTÉ, must surely have some former students working in Montrose.

Nobody doubts the integrity of these two men, but in a small country and an even smaller media society, there should be as much distance as possible between RTÉ and those inquiring into RTÉ.

And that is not the case here. Forgive my scepticism but it is hard not to anticipate an anodyne report, with some tut-tutting and finger wagging, but finally no heads in baskets.

RTÉ news will hang its head for five minutes then go back to its bad habits. And, as always, nobody in the public sector will lose their job, no matter how badly they perform.

Fr Reynolds should not hold his breath if he expects to see full justice done.

Niall Ginty

The Demesne

Killester

Dublin