RTE viewers’ panic after Six One News contributor ‘faints’ live on air

VIEWERS of this evening’s RTE News voiced their concerns after a woman appeared to faint live on air mid-interview.

Shirley Scott, Dublin Rape Crisis Centre Policy Manager, was talking on RTE‘s Six One News about Blathnaid Raleigh, after a man was this week sentenced to eight years for raping Blathnaid with a bottle.

Shirley was in the middle of mentioning Blathnaid’s remarks outside court about it being a strong sentence when her eyelids fluttered and she appeared to collapse.

The fall was accompanied by a large crashing sound and a moment of silence before there was a return to the studio presenter.

RTE News presenter Carla O’Brien then said: “We just apologise there, we will make sure that Shirley Scott is OK.”

A video of the incident was earlier posted on X, accompanied by the caption: “RTE news today. Hopes she’s ok.”

A person wrote underneath: “Oh, the poor woman… that was a heavy fall.

Another added: “Hopefully she’s ok.”

Others elsewhere added their good wishes for the DRCC staff member.

One said: “I hope Shirley Scott from @DublinRCC is doing OK having collapsed a little while ago on @rtenews. Maybe #rtenews will give us an update soon that she’s alright.”

‘Quite scary’

Another added: “Hope Shirley Scott of the rape crisis centre who was being interviewed on @rtenews six one this evening is ok. Watching her collapse was quite scary.”

Viewers were later told that Ms Scott was receiving medical treatment and was OK.

Dublin Rape Crisis Centre later posted on X, formerly Twitter: “Thanks to everyone for your messages of concern about our lovely Shirley – she is (in) good hands being looked after now.

“Our sincere thanks to @rtenews cameraman Gordon who came to her immediate assistance.”

Waived anonymity

Ms Scott was being interviewed for reaction about the sentencing of Jonathan ‘Johnny’ Moran for the rape of Blathnaid Raleigh.

Bláthnaid previously waived her anonymity so Moran could be named in reporting of the case.

Moran, of Tower View, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath, was convicted by a Central Criminal Court jury of section four rape of Ms Raleigh, in that he penetrated her vagina with a bottle and aggravated sexual assault, in that he penetrated her anus with a bottle, in a garden shed in Galway on July 21, 2019.

Justice Tony Hunt remarked on “the importance of the concept of consent” in the sentencing as he handed down eight years for the offence.

‘Handing the shame back’

At an earlier hearing, Ms Raleigh read her victim impact into the record.

She said during the course of her statement that she wants to be a “support and advocate for other victims of sexual violence” as she is aware that not every victim gets to see their attacker convicted.

She said she had not felt comfortable using the word rape until she had “validation from the court”, but the conviction at trial allowed her to use that now.

She told Moran she was “handing the shame back to you”.