Tributes to 'very brave' former Sunday World editor Jim McDowell after his death
Tributes have been paid to the “very brave” journalist Jim McDowell, who passed away today.
The Belfast man – who began his career in the News Letter - received death threats during a decades-long career where he reported on controversial stories, including criminality and paramilitary drug dealing. He was the northern editor of the Sunday World for 25 years until 2015.
McDowell, (pictured) who was in his 70s, is survived by his wife Lindy, daughter Faye and sons Jamie and Micah.
He was also a campaigner for justice for his murdered colleague, Martin O'Hagan, who murdered by the LVF in 2001.
The BBC's former security editor and author, Brian Rowan, remembers calling McDowell to give him the news of the murder.
Speaking to the BBC, he said: "I can still remember the shock in Jim's voice, him not wanting to hear or believe the news I was telling him. "He lived with those risks. He was very brave."
Rowan, who visited McDowell in hospital on Thursday, said he was a "legend". He added: "He stood his ground. He was hard as nails. He fought with people and he fought for people.”
He told the Belfast Telegraph: "My motto is 'Never look back, never step back and we are not bate yet'."
His bravery meant spending some of his time looking over his shoulder in Belfast, but he had no regrets about his career path. When he moved into semi-retirement, he said: "I love it. I would do it again without a moment's hesitation."
Veteran News Letter journalist Billy Kennedy said he was deeply saddened at the death of his former News Letter journalistic colleague.
"Jim was one of Belfast's highly respected journalists in the 1970s-1990s period,” he said.
"We were close colleagues at the News Letter news room in Donegall Street. He was a straight-talking, honest-to-goodness man who never shied away from a good story.
"He covered most of the brutal and challenging stories of the 'Troubles' with professionalism and total accuracy. A proud Donegall Pass man, from sound working class roots, Jim was a news editor in the News Letter in the 1980s and was editor of Sunday News, and later Sunday World.
"Jim was also a talented rugby player who appeared at Ulster inter-pro level. 'Big Jim' was indeed a real character, my deepest sympathy is extended to his wife Lindy, a Maghera woman, and long-serving journalist and columnist in the Belfast Telegraph.”
• Jim's funeral service will be on Saturday 2 May at St George's Church of Ireland, Belfast at 11am.