Controversial journalist and broadcaster Rod Liddle died this week aged 66, he was well-known for his inflammatory columns but Liddle was indirectly responsible for a viral moment in Irish television.

Liddle also made headlines for his colourful private life, when he left his partner of 11 years, Rachel Royce, with whom he had two children, for his 23-year-old mistress.

The estranged couple waged a public war of words over his affair with Alicia Munckton, a former receptionist at the Spectator magazine.

Liddle went on to present a programme about infidelity, arguing that men are genetically pre-programmed to be unfaithful.

Known for his controversial views, Liddle sparked multiple accusations of misogyny and racism with his columns in The Spectator.

The late Bill O'Herlihy was the anchor of RTÉ's football coverage for years, and at one point he brought up a Liddle column in which he called then-Manchester United captain Roy Keane a "thug".

Dunphy had a close relationship with Keane at the time, and was the ghostwriter for his autobiography.

A furious Dunphy replied: "I'll tell you who wrote it. I can remember his name. Rod Liddle. He's the guy who ran away and left his wife for a young one."

O'Herlihy tried to restore order to the broadcast but couldn't stop Dunphy.

Dunphy subsequently admitted he regretted his comments. “It was an unforgivable thing to say,” he said. “It was said in the heat of the moment and I apologise for it. It was a cheap shot. I wholeheartedly apologise.”

The viral moment is still spoken about by football fans. In an era where RTÉ's football pundits are often overshadowed by rivals such as the BBC and ITV, O'Herlihy, Dunphy and Johnny Giles' punditry is fondly remembered by fans.

Dunphy and Keane had a falling out over the latter's book when it came back to bite him as he had admitted to intentionally injuring former Manchester City midfielder Alf-Inge Haaland.

Dunphy accompanied Keane to a Football Association (FA) disciplinary hearing regarding his tackle on Haaland. Keane later wrote that Dunphy tried to distance himself during the hearing and "didn't help".

Dunphy strongly denied the claim.

Liddle, a former editor of BBC Radio 4’s flagship Today programme, was no stranger to controversy over the course of his career and was the first journalist to have an online blog censured by the UK press watchdog.

In 2010 a complaint was upheld by the Press Complaints Commission after the writer and columnist claimed on the Spectator website that the “overwhelming majority” of violent crime in London was carried out by young Afro-Caribbean men.

It was while he was editor of Today that Liddle hired Andrew Gilligan, the BBC journalist whose 2003 report claimed the UK government “sexed up” its dossier on Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction.

Liddle left the BBC before Gilligan’s controversial report was broadcast.