Former RTÉ presenter Eoghan McDermott has announced that he’s expecting his first child with his actress girlfriend Alessandra Heredia.
The couple, who are based in Australia, announced the news in a video shared on Instagram.
Eoghan captioned the post: “The next chapter.”
A host of Eoghan’s famous friends congratulated him in the comment section, including Laura Whitmore who left a simply heart emoji.
Singer Michele McGrath also commented, “The best news!!! Huge congratulations to you both ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️.”
The 41-year-old has been absent from the spotlight since February 2021, when he suddenly disappeared from the 2FM Breakfast show – which he hosted with Doireann Garrihy.
Two weeks later, RTÉ confirmed that he wouldn’t be returning to the show.
At the time, the broadcaster said: “RTÉ confirms that Eoghan McDermott will not be returning to RTÉ 2FM. His contract is due to expire shortly.”
“RTÉ is developing a new direction for the 2FM Breakfast Show which will be revealed in the coming weeks. Doireann Garrihy will remain with the show.”
RTÉ then hired Donncha O’Callaghan and Carl Mullan to host 2FM Breakfast with Doireann.
While no reason was given for his departure at the time, just over one year later Eoghan broke his silence in a statement to claim “false allegations” had been made about him.
Eoghan was referring to shock allegations that had been circulating on social media about him.
Taking to Twitter, now X, in March 2022 to break his months-long silence, he wrote: “A few months ago, false allegations were made about me.”
“Despite not being investigated or verified, these allegations were spread widely, the effects of which I am still processing. I hope the below can close this chapter.”
Eoghan then shared a letter from a solicitor that acknowledged the “false allegations” made against him, and said their client “sincerely regrets publishing the inaccuracies” online.
At the request of and with consideration for the other party to this dispute, I will not be commenting any further on this matter. pic.twitter.com/8NI8fEhSSv
— Eoghan McDermott (@eoghanmcdermo) March 2, 2022
The letter read: “Our client also accepts that it was wrong for her to retweet and tweet unfounded allegations of sexual assault by third parties.”
“Our client also accepts that it was entirely false to allege that your client engaged in illegal drug use in a work-related video.”
The letter also stated: “Our client regrets her actions and acknowledges that her actions have caused, and continue to cause, detriment and destress to your client and those close to him.”
Eoghan added: “At the request of and with consideration for the other party to this dispute, I will not be commenting any further on this matter.”
Eoghan was previously in a longterm relationship with doctor Aoife Melia, but the pair split in 2021.
In a post acknowledging their breakup in July 2022, he wrote: “The last 18 months have been devastating and life-altering in ways that I haven’t fully processed yet. I met Aoife 15 years ago and think she has been and will remain the most wonderful person I’ve ever known.”
“I’m sorry we didn’t get to see our story have a happy ending and so sorry for the turmoil that upended her life, through no fault of her own. All I can do is thank her for the many wonderful years together and wish her every happiness in her new life.”
“Pretty much every bit of myself I’ve worked on and improved over the years has been on account of wanting to live up to her standards and match her best qualities. She made me kinder, gentler, more patient, less selfish and better in most ways a person could measure.”
“I hope she finds the happiness and peace she so rich deserves. That’s all. Take care everyone. Look after yourselves,” Eoghan added.
Aoife is now engaged to the heir of the Tayto Crisps empire, Charles Coyle, and the pair are set to wed in 2025.
