'Ungracious' Kenny stands by on-air ticket rip-up

#1 Pauline commented, on November 23, 2008 at 4:29 p.m.:

I totally agree with what Pat Kenny did. I am embarrassed to be from Cork. That woman had to be the most ungracious person I ever had the misfortune to listen to when she had heard she had won a prize. I did not at any stage hear her say that she wanted to give the tickets to someone else. I suggest that this woman, should she continue to suffer from boredom, spend some of her time working for charities who would only be too delighted for some help.
All told I was revolted by her total apathy at winning such a large amount of money. Perhaps she doesn't need it. If so, then give it to the ISPCC or another worthy cause this time of year.

#3 Wayne commented, on November 23, 2008 at 7:13 p.m.:

I agree with Pauline above, contemptible behavior from Ms Heavey. The gall to call Pat ungracious is the biggest case of double standards you could look for!
I feel that if she is unwilling to take the FULL content of the prize, it should be given to an entrant that would gladly accept entry to our most hallowed of TV institutions!

#5 milly commented, on November 23, 2008 at 8:07 p.m.:

I agree - he had to stoop to theatrics and tearing up tickets that he suggested afterwards he would give them to someone else, even though he had torn them up by then.
Give the lady a break. I have to say it was very badly handled .
Why do we pay him a half million to react so badly?

#7 Kevin Devitte commented, on November 23, 2008 at 9:08 p.m.:

I, along with thousands of other viewers were totally irritated by the lady who won the competition on “The Late Late Show” Friday night. She won €5,000 in cash, €5,000 in vouchers, accommodation at a 5 -tar hotel, limo ride and two tickets to, “The Late Late Toy Show.”
She turned down the tickets saying she had no interest in going to the show.
Any other person entering and winning the competition would have loved to be there for the excitement of it all, but not the lady from Cork…..shame on her.
In the RTÉ competition terms and conditions, the following condition applies: Acceptance of the prize constitutes permission to use the relevant winner's name, hometown and likeness for purposes of advertising, promotion or publicity in any media without additional compensation and prize winners agree to take part in such related promotional activities as RTÉ and/or the promoter(s) may require.
I hope RTE makes her meet the requirements or expectations of all the terms and conditions, especially promotional activities part of the conditions. Part of the prize is using the two tickets to go to the show. If she is a no-show then it should be a no-go for the rest of the prizes.

#9 Siobhan commented, on November 23, 2008 at 9:55 p.m.:

I totally agree with Pat for tearing up the tickets. Why didn't she just keep it to herself that she wasn't interested and then give the tickets to a local school or something to be raffled. She was the one who was ungrateful. She didn't even sound excited about winning the €10,000. I'm fed up of ungrateful people, this attitude is becoming more common these days. Silly woman, learn some manners!

#11 jack commented, on November 23, 2008 at 10:50 p.m.:

No more than Gerry Ryan, the obscene amounts of our taxpayers' money that's thrown at these guys is outrageous. Another State-sponsored body that is accountable to nobody and we pick up the tab. Let's get angry! The times they are a changin'

#13 Mary Hinchy commented, on November 24, 2008 at 9:11 a.m.:

I agree with the first person. Why couldn't Ms Heavy have said "thank you very much" like any mannerly person would have done and either discarded the tickets in the privacy of her own own home or given them as a gift to some one? Just because Pat gets paid a large salary does not mean he has to accept downright rudeness from someone. She did not make it clear as stated that she wanted to give the tickets to someone else. Why should she be appalled? It is amazing how rude people can spot faults in others but not themselves.

#15 June commented, on November 24, 2008 at 10:04 a.m.:

If you all would have listened she actually said raffle the tickets but Pat was ripping them. Let a real person do the show like Gerry Ryan. He has more class and would have handled the situation better.

#17 Ann C commented, on November 24, 2008 at 10:41 a.m.:

This ungrateful woman should not be given any of the prizes. I entered the competition myself. I have three children and I would have loved the chance to go to the toy show and win €10,000 especially comming up to Christmas.
According to the terms and conditions on the Late Late website: "Failure to attend for any reason whatsoever on the travel dates agreed and booked does not entitle the winner to an alternative holiday and the prize will be deemed to have been forfeited".

#19 fiona commented, on November 24, 2008 at 11 a.m.:

RTE should have withdrawn this prize from that ungracious woman. The cheek to say that on live TV after winning a prize. She definitely should not be able to stay the night in the Merrion - that should accompany the toy show tickets. I don't blame Pat for what he did; I think he was so astonished that someone would say that. The pure cheek really!

#21 deirdre and claire commented, on November 24, 2008 at 12:03 p.m.:

We listened to Pat Kenny's radio programme today in the hope of winning the tickets in question. There was no mention of any raffle! I smell a rat!

#23 Kate commented, on November 24, 2008 at 2:17 p.m.:

I agree with Pat, I would love tickets to the Toy Show and have tried entering numerous years but to no avail. I think that the woman from Cork was down right ungrateful and just because she didn't want to watch kids play with toys and robots for two hours doesn't mean she can be rude on live television. It seems wrong that she should get the 10 grand after this.

#25 Martin commented, on November 24, 2008 at 2:55 p.m.:

Ungrateful and rude, that's what she was!
Okay, she doesn't have to go to the show, but she could have at least shown a bit of appreciation for winning the competition. Out of courtsey she could have said "Thank You" and then told the producers later that they can give the tickets away. I think I would have reacted the same as Pat to tell the truth... Next year we might find RTE will not include money and hotel stay with the competition, following her antics!

#27 Michelle commented, on November 24, 2008 at 3:49 p.m.:

Hmmm... I agree but just because she said she didn't want to go to the event, doesn't mean she didn't want the tickets. She may have had people in mind to give them to. I agree though she shouldn't have said on air she wasn't interested in going - or at least she could have said she was going to give them to someone else's children.
Pauline, why are you embarrassed to be from Cork? Where she's from has nothing to do with her being so rude. I'm from Cork and I'm sure as hell not embarrassed... because I don't think one particular person represents where I'm from.

#29 Kelley commented, on November 24, 2008 at 4:33 p.m.:

I have read all of the comments and I'm shocked at the amount of people who think Pat was in the wrong. Personally, I have never warmed to Pat as a presenter and agree that he is a bit wooden but I also agree with what he did on Saturday night.
To win a prize of €10,000 in the times that we are facing at the moment would be enough to make me for one scream with delight. However, the lady in question didn't seem at all fazed. Perhaps she was just in shock but she came across as completely rude about the toy show tickets, and common sense would tell you to not mention the fact that you've no interest in the tickets yourself. Just take them and give them to a friend who would appreciate them.
My own mother once won a prize on the Late Late and by God she was shocked but she wasn't rude to Pat and we were extremely grateful for the prize that she won. This woman just seemed very ungrateful and rude and there are many other people around the country who could have done with that money and would have appreciated the toy show tickets. I'm shocked that she has the gall to say Pat was ungracious!

#31 Niamh commented, on November 24, 2008 at 7:12 p.m.:

I agree with Pat..but that awful woman should not have any part of the prize. The accommodation and money should go hand in hand with the tickets. She is a reflection of the ungracious, money-grabbing society we now live in. Pat, you should have withdrawn the whole prize. If she wanted to give the tickets to someone, in say Cork, would she give them the accommodation and prize money to go with it. Doubtful. Shame on her!

#33 Alan commented, on November 24, 2008 at 8:33 p.m.:

I think Pat could have handled it in a much nicer manner.
Just think how Derek Mooney would handle such a situation.
Very disappointing really. The whole show was really weak!

#35 patricia commented, on November 25, 2008 at 12:01 p.m.:

Not having watched the Late Late show I had not heard anything about this until this morning.
I watched it on YouTube and found it hilarious. It is so funny I cannot stop laughing. Nothing at all wrong with Pat tearing up tickets,
I feel sorry for the woman as it takes all kinds and not everyone shrieks their heads off when they win something but I think everyone is over-reacting to a bit of funny broadcasting.

#37 Brian commented, on November 26, 2008 at 12:28 a.m.:

People forget what a talented broadcaster Pat Kenny is. The issue is not him tearing up the tickets, as they can be easily replaced, the issue is the very ungracious behaviour of one sore winner. I was appalled to see her response to the incident.

#39 Gary commented, on November 26, 2008 at 11:44 a.m.:

Pat is a very talented presenter of current affairs and politics. He has all the charisma of a stick and does not appear to enjoy doing the Late Late. Go back to what your good at Pat; let someone else have a go.

#41 Joss commented, on November 27, 2008 at 2:37 p.m.:

Maybe this woman is just as big a plank as our Pat! Seriously, I think she just didn't think before she spoke. Surely we can all put our hands up and say we've all done the same? But maybe not live on air!
This is such a minor saga....move on!

#43 Donal commented, on November 28, 2008 at 2:50 p.m.:

I had been on the woman's side, having only read the reports. Now, having just watched it on Youtube, I actually think Pat's reaction was not unreasonable. He was polite and I think he handled it ok - maybe tearing up the tickets was a bit dramatic, but it sounded worse when I read about it than it did seeing it in the video. The woman definitely could have been a bit more appreciative, though she did suggest to Pat that he raffle the tickets. Overall, not a big deal.

#45 Joe commented, on November 29, 2008 at 2:12 p.m.:

From the age of 5 I was taught to say thank you when someone gave you a present. That woman sums up all that is wrong with some people in Irish society today: ill-mannered and ungracious. I wouldn't be a particular fan of Pat Kenny but he was absolutely right on this occasion.
That women showed herself up big time. Pity he had to give her the money.

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