Marty Morrissey’s loaned car for five years was not the one at the centre of a probe during the Media Committee grilling of RTE chiefs during the week.
Fianna Fáil senator, Timmy Dooley, was the one whose line of questioning led to RTE sports presenter Mr Morrissey outing himself as the beneficiary of a car loan deal with Renault for the last five years.
But Mr Dooley told The Irish Mirror that he had no idea Mr Morrissey had a free car and that he was quizzing the RTE top brass about another case.
READ MORE - Shaken Marty Morrissey breaks silence on RTE free car scandal as he asks public to 'forgive me'
He said: "I wasn’t on about Mr Morrissey, I was referring to another case I had been made aware of, so there’s more to come from RTE on this I’d say.
"I had no intention of dragging Mr Morrissey into this, that was RTE’s doing and I think it is very unfair on Mr Morrissey, he’s done nothing wrong."
Mr Dooley added: "I was asking about the plethora of car allowances that I’m led to believe existed in RTE, Marty doesn’t even get a car allowance.
"But I was asking were there people in RTE in receipt of said allowances when they mightn’t even have a driving licence?"
A source close to RTE senior staff told The Irish Mirror that some senior staff who have had their pay cut in recent years received new car allowances at the same time.
Meanwhile, Leinster House was awash with rumours yesterday that there may be more RTE staff with free cars after Morrissey admitted he had a ‘loaned’ car for five years.
However, he said he returned the free car loaned to him last month, whereas an RTE boss told an Oireachtas committee a free car was only returned on Tuesday of this week.
Politicians have been scrutinising RTE executives at two committees for more than a week now, the PAC (Public Accounts Committee) and the Media Committee.
It emerged at the Media Committee on Wednesday that at least one star at the station had the use of a car that was not authorised by management, which it should be under their rules.
Mr Morrissey came out and put his hand up to say he had a free car from Renault on an ad hoc basis.
However, acting chief in RTE, Adrian Lynch, told the Media Committee on Wednesday that there were "possibly" more cars and that a forensic trawl of the broadcaster’s 1,800 staff was still ongoing.
Politicians are speculating wildly about other RTE stable stars who may be enjoying the perk of an unsanctioned car.
Labour media spokeswoman, Marie Sherlock, said: "Incoming DG Kevin Bakhurst made a commitment to execute a plan of action to move RTÉ out of crisis when he takes up the role next Monday.
"One of his first acts must be to re-affirm RTÉ editorial standards and conflict of interest guidelines.
"This must involve staff and management upholding these standards every single day.
"Over the past two weeks, we have learned of a serious absence of accountability and responsibility among some in RTÉ which is deeply shocking and damaging to RTÉ."
