RTE has confirmed that it could face legal action from a number of current and former employees following the resignation of one of its senior executives last week.
Several members of RTE are also demanding an independent inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the resignation of Mr Andrew Burns, the former head of scheduling planning for RTE television.
Mr Burns resigned on Tuesday following a meeting with the director general, Mr Bob Collins.
He had been the subject of several formal complaints about his management style and he appeared before a disciplinary inquiry in December. The three-person board found there was a conflict in some of the evidence from one of the complainants and it did not recommend disciplinary action. His resignation last week came following threats of legal action from a former employee, Ms Helen O'Rahilly, who had been presented with a transcript of a taped conversation involving Mr Burns. In the conversation, which Mr Burns did not know was being recorded, he is said to have made derogatory comments about Ms O'Rahilly and other members of staff in RTE. A transcript of the conversation had been presented to the disciplinary hearing as well as to Mr Collins. Following the board's decision not to discipline Mr Burns, a transcript was presented to Ms O'Rahilly, who now works for the BBC. She is said to have been "furious" about the comments made.
Mr Kevin Healy, head of RTE corporate affairs, confirmed that she has threatened legal action, though he said it was not yet clear against whom the action would be taken - RTE, Mr Burns or those who taped the conversation.
