Gerry Ryan - Death

Death

"Let's be honest about this. Gerry could be a bollocks, too. No question about that. He was self-centred in many ways."

“He was one of the greats of modern Irish broadcasting on radio and television.”

“Gerry was an extraordinarily talented broadcaster whose unique communication skills and larger than life persona entertained and enlivened a national audience over many years.”

“He was the best company you could ever have. He was bold in every sense of the meaning of that word. He was brave in his broadcasting; he was brave in his life; he lived his life to the full.”

“I heard the news on Friday from Noel Kelly, our agent. I cried then, I’ve cried since, and I will cry again.”

Ryan spoke of feeling ill on the night of 29 April 2010, and cancelled several appointments on that night. He was found dead in the bedroom of his Leeson Street, Dublin apartment by his partner on the following afternoon,

Ryan's family issued the following statement to the public: “Gerry Ryan died today. Morah and his children are in complete shock. Please respect their privacy.”

President Mary McAleese and many political figures issued regrets at Ryan's death. Fellow RTÉ broadcasters Gay Byrne, Pat Kenny, Larry Gogan, Joe Duffy, Dave Fanning and Ryan Tubridy also expressed their regrets. Chris Evans of BBC Radio 2 also paid tribute. RTÉ Radio 1 cut short their afternoon show for a special tribute programme on Drivetime. Bono also expressed his sympathy.

Director-General of RTÉ Cathal Goan, Managing Director of RTÉ Radio, Clare Duignan, and RTÉ Chairperson Tom Savage all released statements on RTÉ.ie. Marian Finucane spoke of meeting him on the Tuesday before his death, considering him to be stressed.

Fans also added their condolences to a memorial website set up in his memory. RTÉ colleagues discussed his life on The Late Late Show. A two-hour radio programme presented by Evelyn O'Rourke was broadcast on RTÉ 2fm on 1 May 2010. A book of condolences was opened in the RTÉ Radio Centre, in Donnybrook, Dublin,

Following the announcement of the findings into Ryan's death and its relationship with cocaine consumption at the inquest on 10 December 2010, the broadcaster was involved in further controversy due to his outspoken views against drug use. Details of Ryan's cocaine habit reversed the sympathetic outpourings of the public at the time of his death. Newspaper columnist Kevin Myers stated, "He was also a criminal fool, and an enemy of all that's decent and honourable and true in society".