The RTÉ broadcaster Dave Fanning has apologised for comments he made on RTÉ Radio 1 last week while discussing the life and career of the late Christy Dignam.
Dignam passed away on Tuesday 13 June after a long illness.
Fans, collaborators and music industry professionals paid tribute to the Aslan frontman on social platforms and in the media in the days following his death.
Fanning was part of a panel on Today with Claire Byrne on Wednesday 14 June when he made the comments, which were subsequently criticised on social media after the broadcast.
In a tweet this afternoon, Fanning wrote: "I listened back to my bit on the radio about Christy Dignam feeling that it wasn't perhaps as bad as some comments have made out. Comments were right, I was wrong - it was bad. I was trying to highlight some deeper issues in Ireland during the eighties and I totally missed the mark. Incredibly ill-timed and poor taste. I really didn't intend to come across that way.
"Christy was honestly one of the nicest and most genuine people I met in the music business, as are all of Aslan, and I have said that many times down through the years. I particularly want to apologise to his family.
"Christy was ALWAYS a gentleman who deserves better than that from me."
In a statement an RTÉ spokesperson said: "RTÉ has received 4 formal complaints and 41 emails and calls to the RTÉ Information Office giving negative feedback in relation to Dave Fanning's comments about Christy Dignam. We have no further comment."
