Tributes paid to former RTÉ journalist Tommie Gorman following his death 

TRIBUTES have been paid to former RTÉ journalist Tommie Gorman who yesterday passed away at the age of 68.

Mr Gorman, who was originally from Sligo, was the national broadcaster’s European correspondent and later its northern editor.

He retired from RTÉ in 2021 after 40 years with the broadcaster, and a year later he published his memoir, Never Better: My Life in Our Times.

In a statement, Mr Gorman’s family said: “Tommie was a cherished husband, father, brother, and friend whose innate kindness and generosity of spirit touched the lives of all who knew him.

“His memory will forever remain in our hearts, and his spirit will continue to guide and inspire us every day.”

Perhaps Mr Gorman’s most famous interview came in 2002, while the country was embroiled in the Saipan debacle, when he interviewed Roy Keane.

Tánaiste Micheál Martin described Mr Gorman as “the personification of public service broadcasting” and said he leaves behind a powerful journalistic legacy.

“For so many of us, Tommie was a guide, helping us navigate the complexities of Northern Ireland, and before that Europe,” he said. “His clarity of expression, built on deep knowledge and great connections, shaped this nation’s understanding of many historic days.”

Mr Gorman had a long battle with cancer, and his discovery that under EU law he was entitled to treatment available in another EU country had life-changing benefits for hundreds of Irish people.

In 1998, he became the first Irish citizen to avail of treatment in a Swedish centre of excellence, and his 2002 documentary, Europe, Cancer, and Me, inspired hundreds of Irish citizens to seek medical treatment across the EU.

Born in 1956, Mr Gorman studied journalism at the College of Journalism in Rathmines.

Maurice Gubbins, former editor of The Echo, was a classmate and shared a flat with Mr Gorman in Rathmines, and Mr Gorman was later Mr Gubbins’ best man.

“This is a terrible shock, and we are devastated at the news,” Mr Gubbins said. “We have been friends for at least 50 years. Tommie was one of Ireland’s greatest journalists, and the best friend a person could have.”

Mr Gubbins said his heart went out to Mr Gorman’s wife, Ceara Roche, who is originally from Douglas, and to their children Moya and Joe.

“He was the bravest person you could possibly meet, both in his journalism and in dealing with very difficult health issues,” he said.