"The sponsored podcast featured prison staff speaking about life working in an Irish jail and the advantages of a job in the penal system. The Irish Prison Service (IPS) has confirmed that a fee of €20,000, plus €4,600 in Vat, was agreed with the Tipperary entertainers Jonathon 'Johnny Smacks' McMahon and John 'Johnny B' O'Brien for the show. The IPS said "editorial adjustments" had been made before the podcast was released to ensure none of the content compromised security."
"Two officers were given a primer by the IPS on questions to expect and suggested answers. These included the earning potential of up to €70,000 in their first year of service, based on starting pay as well as allowances for additional hours and a seven-day roster. It said: "Once fully qualified, prison officers receive salaries ranging from €46,492 to €59,681, based on experience.""
The Irish Prison Service contracted the Tipperary entertainers Jonathon 'Johnny Smacks' McMahon and John 'Johnny B' O'Brien for a sponsored podcast, agreeing a fee of €20,000 plus €4,600 in Vat. Editorial adjustments were applied before release to ensure no content compromised security. Internal emails show the hosts offered a bespoke commercial package to promote careers, proposing a feature interview with two officers at different service lengths. Two officers received a primer from the IPS with suggested questions and answers, including claims about first-year earnings up to €70,000 and fully qualified salary ranges between €46,492 and €59,681. The IPS required oversight of the final edited episode for security reasons.
Read at Irish Independent
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]