Reporter No2 quits RTE in just ten days
National broadcaster rocked again as south east man damien gives notice
A SECOND reporter at RTE has quit the station 10 days after seasoned correspondent Martina Fitzgerald handed in her notice to bosses.
The decision by Damien Tiernan, 46, to pack in his gig as South East correspondent was a bombshell to his colleagues at the national broadcaster.
It comes just 10 days after former political correspondent Fitzgerald left when bosses removed her from her Leinster House role.
And there was more bad news for editors last month when anchor Sharon Ni Bheolain locked horns with Head of News and Current Affairs Jon Williams in a major office bust-up.
Seasoned reporter Tiernan, 46, had worked with RTE for 23 years.
The dad of two told the Irish Mirror last night his decision to leave
“had nothing to do with” Fitzgerald’s dispute, but declined to comment on any other reasons for his departure.
He said: “I’m taking the Voluntary Redundancy Scheme. I thought long and hard about it.
“It’s a difficult decision to make, but it just feels the right thing to do at the right time. I’m finishing up the end of next week, but I’ll still be an RTE employee until the end of January.”
It’s understood he applied for redundancy last month and bosses offered him the basic package.
Tiernan said: “I had to think about it over Christmas and see if it was the right thing to do.
“I’ve no idea what I’m going to do next, I’m thinking of a couple of different options, but I’ve no real idea.
“It’s a big decision obviously you know and a big change but you know, change has risks but it also has a bit of excitement.
“There was a big shock. Nobody had any inkling whatsoever.”
Originally from Newtownmountkennedy, Co Wicklow, Tiernan began his career as a reporter with the New Ross Standard, before joining RTE. Labour Party leader and Wexford TD Brendan Howlin paid tribute to him last night and said the heat is on editors to find a suitable replacement.
He added “The future of RTE has to be more regional focused and Damien was an authentic voice for the
South East.”