RTÉ Under Fire After Presenter Incorrectly Announces Singer’s Death

RTÉ has come under fire this morning after one of their presenters incorrectly announced that singer Bernie Nolan had died.

The broadcaster was one of many who believed the false reports circulating on Twitter.

 

Bernie was diagnosed with breast cancer three years ago.

According to the Irish Independent host of the LateDate show Alf McCarthy said that terminally-ill Bernie had passed away.

He did stress that the reports had yet to be confirmed however word soon spread on the social media site.

Brian Ormond was one of the people who retweeted the news before apologising when he realised it was a hoax story: “I’ve just heard that Bernie Nolan has not passed. Apologies for my tweet. I saw a well-known person say she had.”

A spokesperson for RTÉ said: "Alf McCarthy made a reference during the programme to the fact that there were reports on Twitter that Bernie Nolan had passed away but did stress that they were unconfirmed and clarified before coming off air that they appeared to be hoax tweets."

 

Bernie with two of her sisters Linda and Maureen.

It also emerged today that Anne Nolan has ended her feud with her sisters for the sake of Bernie who was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2010.

After less than two years of treatment the 52-year-old announced that she was free of the disease but unfortunately was told in October 2012 that it had returned and was incurable. She is spending her last days with her family at her home in Surrey.