FORMER RTÉ News presenter Bryan Dobson has offered some insight into UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson's highly condemned actions yesterday.
The Conservative Party leader was being interviewed by an ITV News journalist when the subject of a 4-year-old boy with suspected pneumonia who was forced to lie on a hospital floor in Leeds General Hospital was brought up.
Journalist Joe Pike attempted to show the disturbing photo of Jack Williment-Barr to the Prime Minister, but Mr Johnson at first refused to look at it and then, bizarrely, took Mr Pike's phone and put it in his own pocket.
Tried to show @BorisJohnson the picture of Jack Williment-Barr. The 4-year-old with suspected pneumonia forced to lie on a pile of coats on the floor of a Leeds hospital.
The PM grabbed my phone and put it in his pocket: @itvcalendar | #GE19 pic.twitter.com/hv9mk4xrNJ— Joe Pike (@joepike) December 9, 2019
Mr Johnson's actions have been widely criticised across the board, from media, politicians and the general public alike, both for his refusal to look at the photo which shows the NHS in crisis, and for taking the journalist's phone.
As anger flared across social media, one well-known Irish media figure shone some light on why the UK Prime Minister may have done this-- and it seems it's because it's a habit.
Bryan Dobson, who was the main presenter of RTÉ News for 21 years and now presents radio show Morning Ireland, took to social media giant Twitter to report that he had had a similar run-in with Boris Johnson in January.
Quote-retweeting the original video clip from Joe Pike, Mr Dobson said:
"Your PM has form on this, Joe. He grabbed my notes during a public interview about Brexit in Dublin last January."
It sounds like the RTÉ favourite got his own back though, as he continued:
"I suggested he hang on to them as they might come in handy."
Your PM has form on this, Joe. He grabbed my notes during a public interview about Brexit in Dublin last January. I suggested he hang on to them as they might come in handy. B https://t.co/maDxhKxfQk
— Bryan Dobson (@BryanNewsatOne) December 9, 2019
See More: Boris Johnson, Bryan Dobson, ITV News, RTE
