Northern Ireland

RTÉ apologises to former DPP Barra McGrory for `untrue statements' on radio show

Barra McGrory QC `is rightly regarded as a legal practitioner of the highest competence, integrity and independence'. Picture by Hugh Russell
Barra McGrory QC `is rightly regarded as a legal practitioner of the highest competence, integrity and independence'. Picture by Hugh Russell Barra McGrory QC `is rightly regarded as a legal practitioner of the highest competence, integrity and independence'. Picture by Hugh Russell

RTÉ has apologised to former Northern Ireland Director of Public Prosecutions Barra McGrory QC after "entirely untrue statements" were made on a radio show earlier this month.

The broadcaster issued the apology yesterday about the comments on RTÉ Radio One's `Today with Claire Byrne' show on May 6.

"In a broadcast on this programme, it was stated falsely that Barra Mcgrory QC, the well-known lawyer and former Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland, was politically motivated in directing the prosecutions of two former British Army soldiers over the death of Joe McCann in Northern Ireland in 1972," it said during the programme yesterday.

"The statements were entirely untrue and without foundation. RTE unreservedly apologises to Mr McGrory.

"Furthermore, RTE is happy to positively acknowledge that Barra McGrory QC is rightly regarded as a legal practitioner of the highest competence, integrity and independence."

The Public Prosecution Service said in 2016 that the decision to prosecute was "objective and impartial" and sanctioned by then DPP Mr McGrory after "independent legal advice from an English QC".

The lawyer left the post in 2017, returning to private practice.