RTÉ’s London editor Brian O’Connell has announced he is to leave the broadcaster with the closure of its London bureau at the end of next week.
Mr O’Connell tweeted this evening: “I have decided to leave RTE when their London bureau closes at the end of next week.”
His resignation comes after the State broadcaster announced it would close its London office as part of a €25 million cost-cutting programme earlier this year.
The five members of staff at the bureau were offered relocation back to Dublin or a redundancy package following the decision.
Mr O’Connell, who joined RTE in 1981 moved to the London bureau in 1989.
During his London career, he reported on four prime ministers; the release of the Birmingham Six and Guildford Four, the death of Princess Diana, the Northern Ireland peace process and devolution in Scotland and Wales.
Later this evening the station's political correspondent David Davin-Power tweeted: “My colleague Brian O'Connell leaving RTE..... a gentleman and a great correspondent. A great shame he found himself in this position”
