The veteran journalist who broke the news of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement has died, aged 67.
Tributes have been paid to Stephen Grimason, a former BBC News NI political editor, following his death after a long illness.
Remembered as a journalist who “regularly seemed to be one step ahead of everyone else - including the politicians”, Mr Grimason spent more than three decades working in journalism.
Working in local newspapers such as the Lurgan Mail, Ulster Star and Banbridge Chronicle, he also worked for the former Sunday News newspaper and News Letter.
Originally from Lurgan, he later went on to work for the Stormont administration as director of communications.
He spoke publicly over the last year about his battle with cancer and said he received well wishes from former Prime Minister Tony Blair among others.
Covering some of the most notorious moments of Northern Ireland’s Troubles, as BBC NI’s political editor, he was best known for his reporting of the peace deal which helped to end the Troubles.
As was the first person to get a leaked copy of the Good Friday Agreement, he held it up triumphantly on live TV, he said: “I have it in my hand”.
Adam Smyth, director of BBC NI, paid tribute to Mr Grimason on Sunday.
“Stephen Grimason possessed the special talents that only the very best editors and correspondents exhibit - the audience always came away from his broadcasts feeling they knew and understood the political landscape better and they trusted what he had to say,” he said.
“Stephen’s list of contacts and sources was so extensive he regularly seemed to be one step ahead of everyone else - including the politicians.
“His contribution to BBC Northern Ireland is deeply appreciated and we offer our sincerest condolences to Stephen’s family.”
Other former colleagues have also paid tribute to Mr Grimason, including former BBC News NI presenter Noel Thompson, who said he was a “brilliant political editor”.
Sad to say that former BBC NI political editor Stephen Grimason died last night. He was 67. He was also a former Director of Communications at Stormont with the NI Executive. Stephen will be deeply missed, but always loved, by family, friends and colleagues. pic.twitter.com/52BWHECabh
— Mark Simpson (@BBCMarkSimpson) April 28, 2024
BBC journalist Mark Simpson also said: “Stephen will be deeply missed, but always loved, by family, friends and colleagues”, while broadcaster William Crawley said he was a “great journalist and colleague”.
