Alan Hughes has finally responded to Sinead Desmond’s exit from Ireland AM

He's had his say on the matter.

Back in November, Sinead Desmond walked out of her TV3 show, Ireland AM, after 11 years. At the time, it was believed that she had left over a pay dispute after it transpired that her fellow male co-hosts, Mark Cagney and Alan Hughes, were being paid more than she was. Sinead left, without warning to viewers, with TV3 releasing a statement wishing her well for the future:

"Sinéad Desmond has decided to leave Ireland AM after 11 years working on the show. We would like to thank Sinéad and wish her well for the future."

Now, four months later, Alan has finally responded to these claims and has said it was nothing to do with his pay. He points out that no one could possibly know how much he is on because he is not employed as a staff member in TV3. He told The Sun:

“It was Sinead’s decision to leave. As regards anyone thinking it was because of my salary. I don’t know why anyone would have thought that? Because I’m not staff, and neither is Mark. So I don’t know how anyone could know what we’re being paid in TV3. I certainly had no idea how much Sinead was getting paid. So I don’t know how anyone could know how much anyone else was being paid.”