Heartbroken Melanie Verwoerd has blasted RTE for failing to tell her they were building a memorial to Gerry Ryan.
The 2FM presenter’s partner said it was a “delayed” decision to erect a tribute plaque but is happy it is finally happening.
However ex-South African ambassador Melanie, 47, said it should have been quicker after the “stress and unhappiness” Montrose management caused him by treating him like a plumber.
She said a top level employee told him before his death that “he needed to understand that he was like any plumber RTE would contract to fix pipes”.
Stressed: Melanie claims RTE hurt him before death | VIPIRELAND.COM
“If he did not pitch up to do the work, he would not get paid,” she told the Irish Sun.
“Despite Gerry’s respect for plumbers, he could not believe that after 30 years of working for the organisation, being absolutely passionate about promoting the public service broadcaster, and being a revenue earner for them, this comparison would be drawn.
Involved: Morah and girls Lottie and Bonnie have been consulted | VIPIRELAND.COM
“To him it illustrated the complete disdain they had for him.” She also claimed that the station “did nothing to protect”.
It emerged that only the Ryan family has been invited to consult on the plaque, with Melanie not certain of an invite to the unveiling.
Unhappy: Melanie is annoyed at way she was treated | VIPIRELAND.COM
However 2FM boss Dan Healy hit back at claims Gerry had been handled badly by RTE management.
He said: “I see how RTE management deal with lots of issues, and all I’ve seen is professional managers doing a great job.
“I can say that — coming from the commercial world where discontent is handled with machine guns.”
