RTÉ admits paying Tubridy €345,000 more than declared

Well I think if they bring Tubs back in some form, they'll have him run out the last 2 years of his contract and get rid of him then. Tubridy has a contract of €250,000 a year and I just don't see how he RTE can get rid of him from a legal point of view. The payments will be an issue for Revenue, they'll decide if there's a case to be heard and it's very likely he's all above board there. (I personally think he's finished in RTE)

I think there's no public trust left in him, it will be a mark of Bakhurst's tenure and his intentions as to how he deals with Tubridy.

What I really wanted was for somebody to ask the clear and obvious question:

"How can this be nothing to do with RTE or your wages, while at the same time everything you did was on "instruction from RTE"."

It can't be both **** things at the same time lads.

They had zero credibility, none whatsoever.

And Kelly is doing his best to destroy his name. Wonder what his clients really think

Have him come in every day as a researcher for whoever does the radio show. That would gall him.

Yes, and Tubridy was very believable on that. Why would he get involved in the contracting and invoicing given he had hired an agent to do exactly that?

Would have been easy for Tubs to blame his agent and RTE as he himself probably wasn't even involved in these discussions.. But the agent seems dodgy and Tubs is very supportive of him. And NK clearly is working on Tubs' behalf...it's hard to square that one.

Your whole premise is mistaken.

Tubridy earns neither wages nor a salary from RTÉ.

He is an independent contractor, he receives his money by means of occasional invoicing, which like many contracting relationships in industry, can vary in its specifics due to budgeting and management decisions.

In any case, the Forensic Accountant to be appointed by the Minister of Everything tonight, will clear up any uncertainty about the invoicing practice and point the finger at who, if anyone, was in the wrong.

RTE execs coming out of this looking terrible, as had been the case all along

Tubs probably back by September

I have never thought Tubridy was a good radio presenter (always relived during the summer or on the odd day when someone else did the show) but only turned off when he boasted about his latest freebie. Admittedly that was at least once a week.

But if he comes back, I won't be listening.

I've been remembering the months when he pretended to believe that puffins didn't exist, while constantly saying how much he'd love to go to Iceland. And eventually he got a free trip to guess where and saw some guess whats. I don't think he ever mentioned his great love for Iceland again - maybe he didn't get enough deference there.

Someone really should advise them that the 'Toyman' name makes him sound like a repeat villain in a cop show.

That Tubridy is finished in media anywhere is a given. Rep is destroyed here and he doesn't have the chops to succeed abroad. His arrogance and greed has ultimately been his undoing. Optics dictated he had to appear before the committee. The problem for Tubridy is he lacks the humility to appear contrite or sorry. The fact that he hasn't offered to return the 345k to date is telling.

Tubridy up till recently was the luckiest person in the country. Getting a wage which vastly exceeded what he brought to the table. Dire interview skills. No charm or personality. No intellectual depth. The one attribute the public thought he had was honesty and sincerity. Even that turned out to be fake.

He might live out his life in great comfort but at the cost of his name being destroyed. It might prove to be the most expensive 345k ever trousered. He certainly didn't earn it.

In relation to any mental health stress Tubridy is saying he is suffering I have zero sympathy. He brought this on himself completely. I will save my empathy for those who genuinely struggle with their mental health.

Amazing really.

The two lads must have known their game was up and that RT was finished in RTE before todays session. Why in the hell would you put yourself through something like that knowing you could only come out worse.

Don’t forget they’ll be replying and will have their own evidence.

Not just an agent, but a little minor agent being bullied and hoodwinked by the big bad RTE.

It put in context how ridiculous the "following instructions" defence is.

He runs his own company who issued the invoice. RTE didn't issue the invoice. He wasn't pushed on the "didn't you consider it odd to send an invoice to a UK company for services rendered in Ireland?"

In my own employer, when we get invoices from providers to be paid, we send them to a division in the Finance Dept. If you don't have a signed contract with the provider, or the name on the invoice doesn't exactly match the contracted party, it'll be sent back to me.

Even if we appoint a new provider for the first time, they need to be set-up on the system and need to provide certain information, VAT number etc.

Aren't most of them gone though

Trying to work the compo angle