Irish radio broadcaster found dead

Gerry Ryan, 53, anchored a popular daily morning chat show on RTE's radio station 2FM.

"Mr Ryan was found dead in his apartment in Upper Lesson this morning," a senior Garda (Irish police) source said.

Ryan was found in his bedroom after officers were called to the scene when a friend could not gain access to the flat in central Dublin.

The broadcaster announced a separation from his wife Morah in March 2008 after 26 years of marriage. They had five children.

After a stint in pirate radio, the often controversial and outspoken DJ joined Ireland's state broadcaster RTE in 1979.

The Gerry Ryan Show began in 1988 and quickly became one of Ireland's most popular radio programmes.

Ryan has also hosted several TV series including Secrets, Ryantown, Gerry Ryan Tonight, Gerry Ryan's Hitlist and Ryan Confidential.

In 1994 he co-presented the 1994 Eurovision Song Contest with former newsreader Cynthia Ni Mhurchu.