Sarah McInerney has come in for high praise for her composure during a spiky interview with former Sunday Independent columnist Eoghan Harris.
Harris, 79, had his contract with the paper terminated in the last few days after his involvement in an anonymous and abusive Twitter account came to light.
Speaking to RTE Radio One's Drivetime yesterday in a pre-recorded interview, the journalist denied any of the tweets sent from the @barbarapym2 account were offensive.
Harris said it wasn't just him in control - and went into detail as to why he did what he did.
Facing repeated questioning from McInerney, Harris went on the offensive, but bizarrely described her as "extremely well informed" in the process.
At one point, when Harris claimed accounts which supported his 'political line' had been suspended "clearly in response to major pressure, and I suspect the pressure is coming from Sinn Fein," McInerney said: "Eoghan, would you stop the nonsense?"
The interview went down a treat with listeners, who praised McInerney for her approach and reactions.
Colm Tobin said: "Sarah McInerney showing today on the radio that there are many ways to skin a cat, one of which is to calmly repeat questions to the cat while it sets about skinning itself in front of you."
Peter Kavanagh said: "I thought Sarah McInerney was letting Harris away with murder, but it was a measured, controlled and excellent interview. She let him have the space, and he showed his whole arse before she absolutely levelled him with key questions and facts."
Padraig McLoughlin added: "In years to come they'll teach that Sarah McInerney interview with Harris as a lesson in what happens when real talent meets a legacy hack."
Nicola Brennan said: "That interview was a lesson in how to take someone on that you have an issue with: remain calm, present your facts and let the person hang themselves out to dry. No need to go in all guns blazing or with raised voices. So effective. Fair play to Sarah McInerney."
Jackie Burke tweeted: "Sarah McInerney quietly and confidently wiped the floor with (as my friend @JillKerby called him) the dinosaur Eoghan Harris."
You can listen back to the full interview through the link below.
