The RTÉ Radio producer who made a decision to name John Carthy on the Five Seven Live programme during the Abbeylara siege four years ago has told the Barr Tribunal his primary reason for doing it was that Mr Carthy's name was already widely known and had been broadcast on local and national media.
Niall O'Flynn told the inquiry he knew nothing of Mr Carthy's psychiatric illness but if he was aware of it, it would have been one of the ingredients to be considered before making a decision to broadcast the name.
Mr O'Flynn said RTÉ Radio took their responsibility very seriously and this information would definitely have been a consideration. He said in broadcasting interviews with Mr Carthy's neighbours he had wanted to make a fair, objective and impartial broadcast and report what local people were saying.
Mr O'Flynn denied a suggestion that his live report to the programme, which was replayed at the Tribunal today, was glamorised in any way. 'Events were already dramatic enough,' he said, 'and I believe I gave a true and factual account of what occurred.'
Niall O'Flynn earlier told the tribunal he was not aware that Mr Carthy had a radio in the house with him and could have been listening to the programme.
He said he was not aware of any sensitivity surrounding the naming of Mr Carthy on the day and even though he was told loud music was being played in the house, he presumed Mr Carthy was listening to a CD player or stereo.
He said that even though he listened to an earlier interview by the Garda Press Officer, Supt John Farrelly, when the possibility that Mr Carthy was listening to a radio was discussed he had no particular recollection of the reference to the radio.
Mr O'Flynn said he told all of the people he interviewed in Abbeylara on the day of the siege that their interviews could be used on radio or television. He added that the RTÉ Crime Correspondent, Paul Reynolds, had told him that the RTÉ Newsroom was not naming Mr Carthy.
