Five things you may not know about whistle blower Gareth O’Callaghan

RTÉ stars on cocaine, Gerry Ryan's dealer identity to be exposed. Gareth O'Callaghan is back at the forefront of the Irish media.

By William Nestor

Former RTÉ radio presenter Gareth O’Callaghan has never been one to keep quiet. Over the weekend it was the outspoken broadcaster’s time to shine as he lifted the lid on the rampant use of cocaine within RTÉ and the media industry.

In an Irish Independent interview, O’Callaghan claimed he knows the identity of Gerry Ryan’s cocaine dealer and is aware of four high-profile stars who are regular users of the drug.

The national broadcaster has come under strong criticism for its lack of coverage on Gerry Ryan’s cocaine addiction and the death of one its stars.

Meanwhile, O’Callaghan has been busy stirring public interest as to who the coke-using stars could be. O’Callaghan battled an alcohol addiction and depression for many years which brought about a book, A Day Called Hope: A Journey Beyond Depression.

Here are five things you may not know about 4fm breakfast show presenter Gareth O’Callaghan, one of which is entirely false:

1. Gareth trained to be a priest

At the age of 21 O’Callaghan got in the head to become a priest. He went to Clonliffe College as a seminarian but he soon met his wife-to-be Jacqui on a bus and forgot all about the life of celibacy. So, after a year he left so that he could pursue Jacqui.

2. Gareth spent six weeks broadcasting from sea

At one point, early on in his career, O’Callaghan drifted off to England for two years, working for a stomach-churning and claustrophobic six weeks on a rocking ship in the middle of the North Sea for Radio Caroline. He was taken off the boat in the middle of the night by the drunken skipper of a lifeboat. He then went on to work with some local BBC stations and studied journalism.

3. Gareth has written six bestselling works

O'Callaghan has been writing since 1995. To date, he is the author of six bestselling works - five novels and a memoir. He has contributed two stories to the New Island Open Door series, entitled Joe's Wedding and Stray Dog. New Island publishes literary fiction, poetry, drama, biography, politics and social affairs. He wrote A Day Called Hope: A Journey Beyond Depression about his own personal experience of severe depression.

While in the depths of depression, he continued to write and produced another of his best-selling thrillers. The Limbo Vigil was about a separated man, expelled by a violent wife, who emigrated to Martha's Vineyard where he carved out a good life until getting a chilling message that his daughter has attempted suicide.

4. Gareth thinks he’s better than Ryan Tubridy

Back in 2005 O’Callaghan was bitterly disappointed to be turned down for Marian Finuacane’s old job on RTÉ Radio. O’Callaghan reckoned he was better suited for the slot than Ryan Tubridy who eventually took up the position.

"I don't think her replacement will have the same empathy and outreach that Marian has proved herself to have. I do, however, like to think that I do, " O'Callaghan told the Sunday Tribune at the time.

After this weekend’s revelations, he could take Tubbers' hotseat for a Friday night just to dish out the names of the Irish stars on coke.

5. Gareth’s nickname is GOC Wan*

He was called this even before gay fashion guru Gok Wan came onto the scene. Massive coincidence we know, but that’s just the way it is.

*Denotes the false info