Gerry Ryan - Personal Life

Personal Life

Ryan was married for 26 years to his wife Morah, with whom he had five children: Lottie (born c. 1987), Rex (born c. 1990), Bonnie (born c. 1993), Elliott (born c. 1997) and Babette (born c. 2000). When he worked for the pirate radio station Big D, Morah helped him with his programme. She helped her future husband put the music together and carry the equipment. He paid her £3 out of the £15 he earned.

When they first married, the Ryans had very little money. Pat Kenny gave up a bed for Ryan and his wife to use while on honeymoon in Greece. Ryan obtained a mortgage by lying about his salary and bought a little house in Marino. The couple had some difficulty making their payments and they were constantly receiving reminders and even notices of foreclosure.

In March 2008, Ryan announced he and Morah were separating, and called the separation a very painful experience.

Later in 2008, he began a relationship with the former South African Ambassador to Ireland and the then UNICEF Ireland executive director, Melanie Verwoerd. In 2011, Melanie Verwoerd said she was “deeply shocked” to have been sacked from the charity because of the publicity surrounding her relationship with the deceased broadcaster.

It was claimed that Ryan was known by some to be a cocaine user, allegedly offering to the former RTÉ Radio DJ Gareth O'Callaghan. Ryan's former sister-in-law, Janice O'Brien said: "Many people who knew Gerry knew he took drugs. It was an accepted open secret for years. He used everywhere -- birthday parties, Christmas parties. I'm not the only person in the world that knows this".