ONE of the longest serving staff members at the Irish News, Freddie Fusco, has died aged 98.
Born Alfredo Fusco and a native of Ardoyne in north Belfast, he was a member of the prominent Irish-Italian Fusco clan, and when he retired from the newspaper in 2010 he had been a member of the night staff for almost three decades.
He had owned a sweet shop in the north Belfast area for many years.
The great-grandfather passed away peacefully at the Mater Hospital yesterday.
A year after he left the Irish News, the front window of his Brompton Park home was smashed by vandals while he was undergoing treatment for throat cancer.
The house is close to an notorious interface and had been targeted in the past.
Mr Fusco's funeral will leave his home at 9.30am on Saturday for 10am Requiem Mass at Holy Cross Church, with cremation afterwards at Roselawn Cremetorium.
He is survived by his children Marie, Jackie, Kevin, Frank and Congetta, grandchildren and a great-grandchild.
His wife Kathleen predeceased him.
Marie Fusco yesterday described him as "a wonderful father. We will miss you so much", posting a picture of him with his grandchildren on social media.
Tribute was paid by the Irish News, which offered "deepest sympathy to his family circle at this sad time".
