`Star' editor to take over at `Evening Herald'

The Evening Herald has appointed a new editor, Mr Gerry O'Regan, to take over from Mr Paul Drury, who has left Independent News and Media. It is understood Mr Drury was told of the appointment on Thursday afternoon. He was offered Mr O'Regan's position as editor of the Star but turned it down.

The announcement was made yesterday after Mr Drury emerged from a meeting with senior executives at the company's Abbey Street headquarters. He informed shocked staff that he was leaving within the hour. Mr Drury (42) had been editor of the Herald since December 1994. He previously had been editor of the Star for 11 months.

His departure comes during a period of transition for the newspaper. Concern had been growing over falling circulation and perceived declining journalistic standards following the demise of the Evening Press.

The paper was recently revamped after market research showed a demand for a more upmarket product. The move was announced while Mr Drury was on holiday, prompting rumours that he would be leaving.

The "relaunch" has been far from smooth and was damaged by the departure of the paper's political correspondent, Ms Katie Hannon, to the Examiner, after she had been the focus of a fresh Evening Herald advertising campaign.

The latest readership figures, published in September, showed the number of adults who read the Herald fell by 3.2 per cent to 332,000 in the 12-month period to June 1999. In contrast, the Star experienced the biggest readership increase of any daily newspaper, rising by 13 per cent to 417,000 readers.

Under Mr O'Regan's editorship, the tabloid's circulation has risen by 30 per cent, from 72,027 to 93,344.

A native of Co Kerry, Mr O'Regan (50) worked with the Tuam Herald and Leinster Express before joining the Irish Independent in 1997. With that newspaper, he served as features editor, night editor and deputy editor before succeeding Mr Drury as editor of the Star.

Mr John Thompson, managing director of the Star, said: "We are sorry to see him go and wish him well". The paper's deputy editor, Mr Danny Smyth, will assume control until an appointment is made.

Mr Gavin O'Reilly, managing director of Independent Newspapers Ireland Ltd, said Mr O'Regan "brings enormous energy, enthusiasm and an unerring instinct for providing readers with a lively, newsy and stimulating newspaper. I know that Gerry will successfully drive forward the Herald, Dublin's largest newspaper."

When contacted by The Irish Times, Mr Drury declined to comment on the appointment or his future plans.