A veteran broadcaster has questioned the BBC's capacity to grill politicians and public figures while it refuses to answer queries about Stephen Nolan's behaviour.
Ronan Kelly, a former UTV news anchor and Downtown Radio presenter, made the remarks after the The Irish News revealed that the Radio Ulster morning show host sent explicit pictures to members of his production team.
Mr Kelly, who is the husband of former BBC Newsline presenter Donna Traynor, now works in media coaching.
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At an industrial tribunal in June, Ms Traynor alleged she was discriminated against by BBCNI management on the basis of age, sex and disability.
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The tribunal was resolved after the complainant was paid a substantial figure by BBCNI, which did not make any admission of liability.
Stephen Nolan and the BBC
Posting on Twitter, Mr Kelly said: "If the strategy is to stonewall, where does this leave BBCNI and its agents when holding other individuals and organisations to account?"
He said how the controversy unfolds will be determined by Radio 5 Live, where Mr Nolan is "now 'the story'".
"A usual, nobody cares what NI licence fee payers think," he concluded.
According to the BBC, Mr Nolan remains scheduled to present his 5 Live show this weekend.
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- Stephen Nolan 'driven' by growing up in the Shankill area of Belfast as an only child
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