Plane-shame DJ ready to reveal truth about his fall from grace

SCANDAL: Shock jock breaks cover for media summit

Caitlin McBride

SHAMED shock jock Neil Prendeville is set to reveal all in a massive PR blitz -- before he is interviewed by gardai.

The radio presenter and City Channel host (49) has gone to ground since reports emerged that he carried out a lewd act on himself in front of fellow travellers on an Aer Lingus flight.

The Herald can reveal that the presenter has been holed up at the Co Wicklow home of his solicitor, Gerald Kean.

Mr Prendeville, along with his wife Paula Lenihan and their two children aged 14 and 16, abruptly left their Douglas, Cork, home during the week, and have been keeping a low profile at Mr Kean's pad.

Mr Prendeville carried out a sex act on himself during a trip from London to Cork on October 19 last, using a copy of Cara, the Aer Lingus in-fight magazine, to cover himself.

He claimed he was under the influence of a cocktail of alcohol and painkillers at the time. Because exposing and attempting to masturbate on a plane is a not an arrestable offence, the broadcaster has been asked to present himself to Gardai in order to help complete their investigation.

He may eventually be charged with indecency.

The Herald understands that the disgraced DJ -- who has an annual salary of €150,000 -- is now set to reveal all in three interviews, which will be published tomorrow.

Pictures

Assisted by a journalist on a British newspaper, Mr Prendeville yesterday staged a 'media summit' at a Dublin hotel, giving interviews and pictures to three downmarket Sunday tabloids, it is understood.

A well-placed source said Mr Prendeville spent two hours yesterday taking part in tightly controlled interviews with three Sunday newspapers.

Between 2pm to 4pm yesterday he met various journalists and photographers at a Castleknock hotel, where the select members of the media were all granted a supervised interview.

Mr Prendeville is clearly pre-empting the possibility of facing any additional charges and has recruited the services of a well-known Cork-based criminal lawyer, in addition to Mr Kean's representation.

Meanwhile two of Mr Prendeville's fellow passengers have given statements to the garda.

Journalist Niamh Hennessy and hotelier Seamus Heaney were seated to his left and right and it is believed that gardai are planning on speaking to at least eight more witnesses.

Mr Prendeville is now on indefinite leave from his job.

cmcbride@herald.ie

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