'The Story So Far' airs next week...
Controversial businessman Denis O'Brien is set to be the subject of a new RTÉ documentary, one that will feature contributions from both admirers and critics.
The feature-length doc will look at the divisive O'Brien's childhood growing up in Dublin to his early ventures in business, including a home shopping channel which collapsed, his early forays into radio, the launch of telecoms group Esat and the awarding of the controversial second mobile phone licence.
Today, O'Brien heads up Digicel, which has 14 million customers in the Caribbean and makes its owner the biggest private media owner in Ireland.
Directed by RTÉ's David Murphy, who previously profiled newspaper baron Tony O'Reilly and Ryanair founder Tony Ryan, The Story So Far examines the boardroom battles at Independent News and Media, including recent allegations of a data breach at the company.
It also includes an interview with Usain Bolt, who has been sponsored by Digicel, and former American president Bill Clinton, who responds to O'Brien's alleged links to Donald Trump's campaign in 2016.
Recalling O'Brien's formative years, a friend notes:
"Some referred to him as 'Denis the Menace' inevitably because he was a likeable rogue, I think.
"He pushed the boundaries at times of having a bit of fun - in his eyes. It wasn't always taken in the best possible spirit by those who had to deal with the outcomes," he says.
You can judge for yourself when Denis O'Brien The Story So Far airs on RTÉ One on Wednesday 4 July at 9.35pm.
