The national broadcaster has said management from the station personally communicated their regret over a sketch on the John Murray Show which has led to the Tyrone manager and his players refusing to hold interviews with the station.

Earlier this afternoon a statement from the Tyrone County Board indicated that the lack of sensitivity shown during a comedy sketch on the Radio 1 programme is the reason behind the decision of Tyrone to blank RTÉ.

The Tyrone statement referred to the hurt caused by the piece: "Inappropriate references to the fact that the Tyrone manager Mickey Harte was associated with the Dali Lama conference in Limerick and the choice of the song "Pretty Little Girl from Omagh" will give you an indication of the complete lack of sensitivity the presenter in question afforded the Harte family and Michaela's husband John McAreavey, in what remains for them a very difficult time."

RTÉ quickly responded to the release from Tyrone with a statement of their own which outlines that there was no intention on their part to offend Mickey Harte.

Additionally, they are at pains to point out that they played no part in making the media aware of the letter that was submitted by a number of intercounty managers, including Harte, to RTÉ which queried the absence of Brian Carthy from commentary duty on RTÉ Radio 1 at the start of the championship.

The statement from RTÉ is full reads:

"RTÉ Radio 1's John Murray Show presents, each morning, a satirical and humorous synopsis of the day's big news stories. On June 9 the programme covered a widely reported controversy involving Mickey Harte.

"RTÉ understands and appreciates that the item offended Mr Harte. It is never RTÉ's intention to knowingly offend any individual, and RTÉ sincerely regrets any offence caused. This sincere regret was immediately and personally communicated to Mr Harte by RTÉ management.

"RTÉ wishes to clarify that it did not leak the contents of the letter referred to in today's statement by the Tyrone GAA Senior Football Management and Players. RTÉ treated the correspondence as private and confidential, and was mindful of the need for discretion in all public statements it was called upon to make.

"It is RTÉ's hope that, in the public interest of all those who follow gaelic games, the matter can be resolved."

Link: Tyrone explain RTÉ boycott Tweet

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