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The Irish Sun
7 days ago
- General
- The Irish Sun
‘It's only a step on a journey' – RTE stars reflect on Leaving Cert pressure and share advice with this year's students
RTE presenters have opened up about their Leaving Cert experiences and shared words of advice with this year's exam class. The 3 RTE stars have reflected on their experiences with the Leaving Cert Credit: RTE 3 This year's Leaving Cert class will begin their exams tomorrow Credit: RTE 3 The presenters shared their best advice Credit: RTE Six One News presenter David McCullagh, who did his Leaving Cert back in 1986, He said: "The pressure was all put on me, by myself." David revealed that what he "really cared about" was the result of his history paper as it was the subject that he was most passionate about. He explained: "I went in, I sat down, I opened up the paper and I realised, I've got this and I absolutely aced it. I came out of that exam walking on air because I thought I'd done so well." READ MORE ON LEAVING CERT But to his disappointment, the presenter got a C in the exam, which he described as "an absolute disaster". He went on to say: "The important thing to remember is that that really rankles with me still. "Even though I went on to do a degree and do a PhD and write history books and all the rest of it, the Leaving Cert result rankles with me. "And do you know how many people in the universe are bothered by it? Me. Only me." most read in the irish sun He added that while it "seems so important at the time", in the end, "it's only a step on a journey". Political Correspondent Paul Cunningham, who also sat his Leaving Cert in 1986, shared some advice for students sitting their exams this year. RTE star shares messages for Leaving Cert students He said: "There's always another step. Persistence is the key thing. You just need to find your way through to the next stage." Paul admitted that he didn't get the results he hoped for but went on to study Arts at UCD and pursue a career in journalism. He explained: "I spent most of my time trying to get articles in the newspaper and also hassle RTE editors to get overnight shifts on the radio desk. "The thing I learned out of all of this is that while I didn't do a journalism course, I became a journalist and that's because of perseverance. "So I say to you, if you do have the change, stick at it. It will fall your way." 'THE MAKING OF YOU' Six One News presenter Sharon Tobin also reflected on her Leaving Cert experience, which she sat in 1997. She said what was "really important" for her was knowing that "there were other ways to get to the career" she wanted. Recalling her Higher Level Maths paper, she admitted: "It brings back a fear in the pit of my stomach." She also said: "I didn't get the points I wanted for the course I wanted to do, I missed it by five points." Sharon went on to study media through a PLC course and eventually got her degree. She said: "Sometimes if you go a different path to the one that you are expected to go, or you tell yourself you have to go. "You come across some other challenges along the way, but they can be the making of you."
Otago Daily Times
22-04-2025
- Otago Daily Times
Witness to claim Beckenridge received help faking deaths
A coronial hearing will hear from a witness claiming John Beckenridge and his stepson Mike were helped to escape after they disappeared in Southland a decade ago. The inquiry into the disappearance of Mike Zhao-Beckenridge in the Catlins a decade ago resumes today. A coroner's hearing was adjourned in 2023 after two weeks of evidence into the case of the missing 11-year-old and his stepfather, John Beckenridge, whose car was found after it plunged 90m off a cliff near Curio Bay. No bodies were ever found and, while the police believe it to be a murder-suicide, Mike's mother, Fiona Lu, believes her son is still alive and the presumed deaths staged. One News reported the hearing would resume today with fresh evidence from five new witnesses. This morning, counsel assisting the coroner Rebekah Jordan said Oliver Watson would give evidence on Wednesday about a phone call he had with his cousin Paul Watson, who owned the land where the car went off the cliff. The phone call was shortly after media reports that a car had gone over the cliff. Jordan said Oliver Watson would give evidence that during that phone call, Paul Watson said "we helped them out, and they are alive". The hearing would also hear from Paul Watson, who denied that he helped Mike and John Beckenridge escape, she said. The new information to be presented at the Coroner's Court also includes a further report from an expert who examined discharged items at the remote cliff top. After Ms Lu and Mr Beckenridge separated, Mr Beckenridge, a Queenstown helicopter pilot, broke a court order and drove to Invercargill to pick up his stepson from school on March 13, 2015. The boy was upset by a court order to live with his mother, and 20 emails to his stepfather were read out during the first stage of the hearing. He said he hated his mother and "she f..... up my life so bad". Mr Beckenridge's final text to the boy's mother was also read out. "You have destroyed my life and Mike's. Me and Mike are leaving now on the Midnight Express 3 mins to departure. Bye my love and thanks for everything JB and MB [sic]." Ms Lu said her ex-husband, who used four aliases, was capable of faking his death and disappearing. A New Zealand woman on holiday in Gili Air Island in Indonesia contacted police to report seeing the boy and his stepfather together three months after the car was found submerged. She told the coroner she was "100% sure" she had seen them. Family private investigator Mark Templeman told Coroner Marcus Elliott that Ms Lu believed her son, who would now be 21, would contact her when he was no longer under the influence of his stepfather. — APL, additional reporting RNZ
Otago Daily Times
21-04-2025
- Otago Daily Times
Hearing into disappearance of 11yo boy and his stepfather resumes
John Beckenridge's car is recovered from Curio Bay in 2015. PHOTO: STEPHEN JAQUIERY The inquiry into the disappearance of Mike Zhao-Beckenridge in the Catlins a decade ago resumes today. Mike Zhao-Beckenridge. PHOTO: SUPPLIED A coroner's hearing was adjourned in 2023 after two weeks of evidence into the case of the missing 11-year-old and his stepfather, John Beckenridge, whose car was found after it plunged 90m off a cliff near Curio Bay. No bodies were ever found and, while the police believe it to be a murder-suicide, Mike's mother, Fiona Lu, believes her son is still alive and the presumed deaths staged. One News reported the hearing would resume today with fresh evidence from five new witnesses. The new information to be presented at the Coroner's Court includes a further report from an expert who examined discharged items at the remote cliff top. After Ms Lu and Mr Beckenridge separated, Mr Beckenridge, a Queenstown helicopter pilot, broke a court order and drove to Invercargill to pick up his stepson from school on March 13, 2015. The boy was upset by a court order to live with his mother, and 20 emails to his stepfather were read out during the first stage of the hearing. John Beckenridge. PHOTO: SUPPLIED He said he hated his mother and "she f..... up my life so bad". Mr Beckenridge's final text to the boy's mother was also read out. "You have destroyed my life and Mike's. Me and Mike are leaving now on the Midnight Express 3 mins to departure. Bye my love and thanks for everything JB and MB [sic]." Ms Lu said her ex-husband, who used four aliases, was capable of faking his death and disappearing. A New Zealand woman on holiday in Gili Air Island in Indonesia contacted police to report seeing the boy and his stepfather together three months after the car was found submerged. She told the coroner she was "100% sure" she had seen them. Family private investigator Mark Templeman told Coroner Marcus Elliott that Ms Lu believed her son, who would now be 21, would contact her when he was no longer under the influence of his stepfather. — APL
Otago Daily Times
21-04-2025
- Otago Daily Times
New witnesses for Zhao-Beckenridge inquiry
John Beckenridge's car is recovered from Curio Bay in 2015. PHOTO: STEPHEN JAQUIERY The inquiry into the disappearance of Mike Zhao-Beckenridge in the Catlins a decade ago resumes today. Mike Zhao-Beckenridge. PHOTO: SUPPLIED A coroner's hearing was adjourned in 2023 after two weeks of evidence into the case of the missing 11-year-old and his stepfather, John Beckenridge, whose car was found after it plunged 90m off a cliff near Curio Bay. No bodies were ever found and, while the police believe it to be a murder-suicide, Mike's mother, Fiona Lu, believes her son is still alive and the presumed deaths staged. One News reported the hearing would resume today with fresh evidence from five new witnesses. The new information to be presented at the Coroner's Court includes a further report from an expert who examined discharged items at the remote cliff top. After Ms Lu and Mr Beckenridge separated, Mr Beckenridge, a Queenstown helicopter pilot, broke a court order and drove to Invercargill to pick up his stepson from school on March 13, 2015. The boy was upset by a court order to live with his mother, and 20 emails to his stepfather were read out during the first stage of the hearing. John Beckenridge. PHOTO: SUPPLIED He said he hated his mother and "she f..... up my life so bad". Mr Beckenridge's final text to the boy's mother was also read out. "You have destroyed my life and Mike's. Me and Mike are leaving now on the Midnight Express 3 mins to departure. Bye my love and thanks for everything JB and MB [sic]." Ms Lu said her ex-husband, who used four aliases, was capable of faking his death and disappearing. A New Zealand woman on holiday in Gili Air Island in Indonesia contacted police to report seeing the boy and his stepfather together three months after the car was found submerged. She told the coroner she was "100% sure" she had seen them. Family private investigator Mark Templeman told Coroner Marcus Elliott that Ms Lu believed her son, who would now be 21, would contact her when he was no longer under the influence of his stepfather. — APL
Otago Daily Times
21-04-2025
- Otago Daily Times
New witnesses to testify at Zhao-Beckenridge inquiry
John Beckenridge's car is recovered from Curio Bay in 2015. PHOTO: STEPHEN JAQUIERY The inquiry into the disappearance of Mike Zhao-Beckenridge in the Catlins a decade ago resumes today. Mike Zhao-Beckenridge. PHOTO: SUPPLIED A coroner's hearing was adjourned in 2023 after two weeks of evidence into the case of the missing 11-year-old and his stepfather, John Beckenridge, whose car was found after it plunged 90m off a cliff near Curio Bay. No bodies were ever found and, while the police believe it to be a murder-suicide, Mike's mother, Fiona Lu, believes her son is still alive and the presumed deaths staged. One News reported the hearing would resume today with fresh evidence from five new witnesses. The new information to be presented at the Coroner's Court includes a further report from an expert who examined discharged items at the remote cliff top. After Ms Lu and Mr Beckenridge separated, Mr Beckenridge, a Queenstown helicopter pilot, broke a court order and drove to Invercargill to pick up his stepson from school on March 13, 2015. The boy was upset by a court order to live with his mother, and 20 emails to his stepfather were read out during the first stage of the hearing. John Beckenridge. PHOTO: SUPPLIED He said he hated his mother and "she f..... up my life so bad". Mr Beckenridge's final text to the boy's mother was also read out. "You have destroyed my life and Mike's. Me and Mike are leaving now on the Midnight Express 3 mins to departure. Bye my love and thanks for everything JB and MB [sic]." Ms Lu said her ex-husband, who used four aliases, was capable of faking his death and disappearing. A New Zealand woman on holiday in Gili Air Island in Indonesia contacted police to report seeing the boy and his stepfather together three months after the car was found submerged. She told the coroner she was "100% sure" she had seen them. Family private investigator Mark Templeman told Coroner Marcus Elliott that Ms Lu believed her son, who would now be 21, would contact her when he was no longer under the influence of his stepfather. — APL
