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| Radio station apologises for Nell's 'Harney smear' on air |
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A NATIONAL radio station was forced to issue a personal apology to Health Minister Mary Harney yesterday after damaging claims about her private life were made live on-air.
Ms Harney's absence from the country has been a source of intense controversy amid growing calls for her to return to deal with the X-ray scandal in Tallaght Hospital.
However, Newstalk radio station was forced to make an unreserved apology to Ms Harney after veteran journalist Nell McCafferty made damning personal comments about the minister on 'The Tom Dunne Show'.
Executives at the station immediately contacted Ms Harney's press secretary after the comments were aired.
"It shouldn't have happened. We don't support the comments that were made," Newstalk chief executive Frank Cronin told the Irish Independent.
"It was inappropriate and we issued an apology on-air to the minister.
"Ms Harney's press secretary was contacted after it happened and an apology was made."
A government spokesman refused to comment on the incident last night.
However, sources close to Ms Harney expressed outrage at the remarks, saying they were both false in nature and derogatory.
Despite the furore, Ms McCafferty last night insisted she would not apologise to Ms Harney.
"I have nothing to add beyond what I have said. No, I won't apologise," she told the Irish Independent.
Ms Harney yesterday faced renewed calls for her to cut short her 15-day St Patrick's Day trip to New Zealand to deal with the deepening X-ray scandal at Tallaght Hospital.
Earlier this week it emerged that 58,000 X-rays -- taken between 2005 and the end of last year at the hospital -- were not reviewed by a consultant radiologist.
It led to delayed diagnoses for two patients, one of whom has died.
It has since been claimed that thousands of letters from GPs referring patients to the hospital for treatment were also not opened.
However, Ms Harney has insisted she will not interrupt her trip to the other side of the world.
She left on Saturday and will not return until Sunday March 21, despite mounting calls for her resignation by patients and the opposition.
Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny yesterday said thousands of people were now fearing for their lives at revelations letters of referral were left unopened.
"The Minister for Health and Children will not return from New Zealand until March 22. This is another catastrophe," he said.
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