Tributes paid following death of veteran reporter Liam Clarke

FURTHER have been paid to veteran journalist Liam Clarke who died suddenly at the weekend.

His wife Kathryn Johnston posted a short message on Facebook saying on Sunday saying; "I am very sorry to say that Liam Clarke died very suddenly but peacefully".

In 2014 the political reporter wrote an article about how he had been diagnosed with a rare form of stomach cancer.

A practising Zen Buddhist he spoke about how meditating had helped him deal with the diagnoses and his treatment for the fatal form of cancer.

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However, he had continued working right up until his death with Arlene Foster posting a picture of her with Mr Clarke just a week before his death when she said he was at the time arranging a more in depth interview about her appointment as DUP leader.

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

Seamus Dooley Irish Secretary of the NUJ said he will be remembered as a " fearless journalist".

"He was never afraid to challenge authority and was always prepared to stand up for the principle of media freedom.

"He commanded respect across the political divide and his death is a loss to journalism in Northern Ireland.

I am very sorry to say that Liam Clarke died very suddenly but peacefully last night. Posted by Kathryn Johnston on Sunday, 27 December 2015

Along with his wife Kathryn, who is also a journalist, he wrote the controversial 'Martin McGuinness: From guns to government' which included transcripts of covertly taped phone conversations.

In 2003 articles published in The Sunday Times, also based on leaks of MI5 taped conversations with senior government figures including Mo Molam and Jonathan Powell lead to a raid on his family home and the arrest of the couple for an alleged breach of the Official Secrets Act, widely condemned at the time as an attack on freedom of the press.

In 2011 he was appointed Political Editor of the Belfast Telegraph, a post he held until his death at the weekend.

Secretary of State, Theresa Villiers said she was "saddened" to hear of his death. "He was a very talented journalist who will be sadly missed", she added.

Northern Ireland Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness said: "I'm sorry to hear Liam Clarke has died. My sympathy and condolences to his family".

Ulster Unionist Party Leader, Mike Nesbitt MLA, himself a former news journalist said: "Liam was hugely professional, always probing and persistent, yet also totally trustworthy.

"I remember him as a senior print journalist with the Sunday Times when I began my career with BBC Northern Ireland. 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."

SDLP Leader Colum Eastwood MLA said the veteran reporter, "Never one to give any politician an easy ride".

"Liam's enduring professional qualities were his straight talking style and his dogged determination. A good journalist and a good man, he will be sorely missed.

"I want to extend my deepest sympathies and those of the SDLP to Liam’s family and friends at this very difficult time.”

TUV leader Jim Allister: "His biography of McGuinness "From Guns to Government" was a tour de force of journalism, which displayed his undoubted skills".