Dunphy Quits Newstalk, Says Owner "Hates Journalism"

Controversial broadcaster Eamon Dunphy has shocked his fellow workers by quitting his Sunday morning radio show with independent station Newstalk.

He followed up his announcement with a sensational claim on his final broadcast that Denis O'Brien - whose Communicorp company owns both Newstalk and Today FM - "hates journalism".

There are conflicting reports over Dunphy's exact reasons for leaving Newstalk.

Dunphy told the Star newspaper that he was leaving because of "management interference".

He said the station had a "very inhospitable atmosphere for journalists to work in", and that he had been "encouraged to put a positive spin on the news agenda".

It's thought he was encouraged not to feature economist Constantin Gurdyiev - a staunch critic of Ireland's economic policies - on his show.

Newstalk says Dunphy's departure came about because he was asked to take a 50% cut in pay.

Dunphy's decision to leave is also reportedly linked to the axing of Sam Smyth from Today FM.

Smyth is a widely respected journalist working at the station for 14 years and a friend of Dunphy's.

He is also a leading investigative journalist for the Irish Independent.

But Smyth is being sued in the courts by Denis O'Brien over comments he made on TV and in the Irish Independent.

Denis O'Brien was found by the Mahon Tribunal to have benefitted from a corrupt payment to former Minister Michael Lowry.

The Tribunal found that Lowry had "delivered" Ireland's second mobile phone license to O'Brien.

Sam Smyth was a regular commentator on the controversy and one of the first reports to unearth the dodgy payments.

The National Union of Journalists has described the axing of the show as worrying, adding that it raised questions about the editorial independence of the station.

Denis O'Brien has built up a vast media empire in Ireland.

Communicorp owns Newstalk, Today FM, Dublin's 98fm, Spin 1038fm and a number of other radio stations.

O'Brien is also a significant shareholder in Independent News Media, which publishes the Irish Independent.