Journalist Paul Byrne: ‘I had a tough time. I want to thank everyone who lent their support to me’

Journalist Paul Byrne says prayer and the kindness of people helped him through the last few difficult months as he sued his former employer over its decision to bring internal disciplinary proceedings against him.

Mr Byrne, who announced his departure from Virgin Media after a settlement in the case on Tuesday, also revealed how he visited his parents’ graves and asked them for help during the process.

He told Neil Prendeville on Cork’s RedFM on Friday he got huge comfort from that.

Fighting back tears, he said: “I had a tough time. I want to thank everyone who lent their support to me, who reached out. I spent a lot of time at my mum and dad’s grave talking to them. It helped a lot.

“I pray. I don’t go to Mass but I do drop in to a local church every so often.

“Even when I wasn’t under pressure, I would call into a church and say a prayer for people or light a candle.

“I would say prayers the odd night in bed. I believe in the power of prayer.

“Over the last few months I said a wonderful novena — my cousin gave it to me. It was beautiful. I read it carefully, the verses and words in there. I took my time and studied it and it was the most beautiful novena.

“I genuinely do believe that that helped me to get through the period of time.” 

But he said he could not talk about his case or the settlement because of a confidentiality agreement.

The long-serving southern correspondent, first with TV3 and then Virgin Media, announced his departure from the role after 26-years on Tuesday, just hours after the High Court was told a settlement had been agreed in his case again Virgin Media.

He said he has no plans to take a break, that he has set up a media website and hopes to work on podcasts featuring people he admires.

“I have no job. I’m looking for a job. I’m a workaholic. I have to work. I have to put bread and butter on the table. And I don’t like being idle,” he said.

Mr Byrne had sued Virgin Media, seeking various injunctions over what he claimed was a flawed disciplinary process which was triggered following a live broadcast in early February. He had been off air since.

The claims were denied.

The matter was mentioned before Mr Justice Mark Sanfey in the High Cout on Tuesday, when the journalist’s counsel Eoin Clifford SC said following a mediation of matters, the dispute had been settled in its entirety.

Counsel then asked the court to strike out the case. No further details of the settlement were given in open court.

Mr Justice Sanfey welcomed the resolution of the case. Mr Byrne was not present in court on Tuesday. He presented The Opinion Line on Cork’s 96FM on Tuesday and Wednesday.

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