Tributes to Belfast Telegraph journalist Liam Clarke after sudden death

Liam Clarke had been the political editor at the Belfast Telegraph since 2011

Tributes have been paid to veteran journalist and author Liam Clarke after he died suddenly on Saturday night.

His most recent position was the Belfast Telegraph's political editor, which he took up in 2011.

He had previously worked at the Sunday Times as its Northern Ireland editor for 20 years before becoming a columnist for the paper.

Mr Clarke was also a regular contributor to BBC Northern Ireland's political programmes.

In 2014, he was named journalist of the year by the Chartered Institute of Public Relations.

Following

Ulster Unionist Party leader Mike Nesbitt, a former journalist, said he was "stunned and deeply saddened" by Mr Clarke's death.

"Liam was hugely professional, always probing and persistent, yet also totally trustworthy," Mr Nesbitt said.

"He was someone worth reading, listening to and following.

"News journalists do a job that some people do not always like, so the journalist's ambition must be to earn respect, which is quite a challenge in a divided society like ours.

"Liam won that universal respect, deservedly so."

Scoop

Last year, Mr Clarke had spoken publicly about his diagnosis with a rare form of cancer, but he continued to work up until his death.

Gail Walker, the editor of the Belfast Telegraph, said Mr Clarke had been the pre-eminent political journalist of his generation.

"Just a few days ago, Liam delivered what was to sadly prove his last big exclusive, a brilliant in-depth interview with first minister-in-waiting Arlene Foster," Ms Walker said.

"Liam told me how much he'd enjoyed the encounter and I know he got a great buzz from landing yet another scoop.

"On behalf of his many friends at the Belfast Telegraph and our sister paper Sunday Life, I wish to extend our deepest sympathy to his wife Kathy, sons Adam and Daniel and daughter Alice."

Family

Mrs Foster, the Democratic Unionist Party leader, said her thoughts and prayers were also with Mr Clarke's family.

"As a journalist Liam had an ability to cut through all the padding and get right to the core of a story," she said.

"He will be missed by us as politicians, but of course our grief is overshadowed by that of his family whom he loved dearly and often spoke."

Sinn Féin's Martin McGuinness, the deputy first minister, said he was sorry to learn of Mr Clarke's passing.

Distinguished

Traditional Unionist Voice leader Jim Allister said Mr Clarke had been "a household name for many".

"His biography of McGuinness, From Guns to Government, was a tour de force of journalism, which displayed his undoubted skills," he added.

SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said Mr Clarke was a "good journalist and a good man".

"Liam Clarke is one of the most recognisable names in Irish journalism," he said.

"That's due not only to his distinguished career and remarkable work ethic, but to his warm character and his good nature.

"Never one to give any politician an easy ride, Liam's enduring professional qualities were his straight-talking style and his dogged determination."