According to filmmaker and author Bob Quinn, Aedin Gormley's Green Room Cinema was broadcast at the wrong speed on St Stephen's Day.

In an email to RTE director general Cathal Goan dated 26 December, Quinn wrote:

"Tonight, when I hear an entire programme played at the wrong speed I get angry.

Angry that your staff of Pale fundafeminists and metrosexuals don't even listen to their own dross."

He accused Goan of being "personally responsible for the cock-up", saying RTE was "a pathetic, irrelevant and despairingly fascist, gated estate. . . You and your staff (inc Joe Duffy) think people are stupid and uncaring."

A spokeswoman for RTE confirmed that a communication from Quinn had been received, but would not comment on the content of the email. She said any technical problems RTE radio encountered were investigated and resolved as soon as possible.

She could not confirm if there was a problem with the St Stephen's Day broadcast, but said: "If it was the case it would be explored immediately, " adding, "there is always the possibility that there could be technical problems . . . it's just the nature of technology".

Speaking to the Sunday Tribune, Quinn said he regretted the abusive tone of his email, and sent an apology to Goan for his "intemperate" remarks. However, he said he had not retracted his criticisms, which he elaborated on in his second email to the director general.

Quinn said he had been angered at the time by the "sloppiness" of Lyric FM, and by the fact that nobody stopped or corrected the programme in question. He also recalled a series about musical plagiarism he had made for the station last August, entitled Borrowed Plumes.

According to Quinn, the final programme of the series was accidentally broadcast at the wrong time.

He added: "I pointed out to Cathal Goan that not one idea of mine has been accepted for 14 years by RTE [One]".

Quinn believes that this lack of support from RTE stems from his 2001 book Maverick, in which he used his insider knowledge to criticise the public broadcaster.

"RTE has never forgiven me for it, either corporately or personally."

According to the RTE spokeswoman, she was "not aware of any kind of bias or prejudice", and would not comment further.