EVERTON and Cliftonville football clubs will hold tributes on Saturday to the well-known journalist Henry McDonald.
As a lifelong supporter of both teams, a half-time message will be displayed in his honour on Goodison Park’s big screen for Everton’s game against Aston Villa, while a minute’s silence will be held at Solitude for Cliftonville’s fixture against Glentoran.
Mr McDonald (57) from the Market are of Belfast passed away peacefully in hospital on February 19 after a short illness.
His funeral will take place on Tuesday at the Oh Yeah Music Centre in Belfast followed by interment in Roselawn Cemetery.
In a previous message, Cliftonville Football Club said the “respected journalist and author” was a regular face at Solitude for many decades, and had not let his illness deter him from supporting his “beloved Reds”.
A family notice said he was survived by his children Lauren, Ellen and Patrick, partner Charlotte, sister Cathy and partner Chris.
After starting his reporting career in the Irish News, Mr McDonald became one of the most respected journalists in Northern Ireland – having worked as Ireland correspondent for the The Observer and Guardian and most recently as political correspondent in the News Letter.
He also enjoyed success in both fiction and non-fiction, writing books about the INLA, UVF and UDA.
Many politicians and journalists have shared messages of condolences with the family over the last week, including the DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson who called him "an excellent journalist and one of the most knowledgeable commentators on Northern Ireland politics".
The Guardian’s editor in chief, Katharine Viner, said he had been an authorative voice on Northern Ireland for many years.
“He broke countless stories and told them with integrity, eloquence and empathy,” she said.
Family flowers only for Mr McDonald’s funeral have been requested, with any donations if desired made to Médecins sans Frontières c/o O’Kanes or online at okanesfunerals.co.uk.
