Rishi Sunak writes his condolences to the sister of Henry McDonald, the News Letter political editor who has died aged 57

The prime minister wrote to Cathy at the home in the Markets area of Belfast city centre where she and Henry grew up.

Mr Sunak wrote: “I have the greatest admiration for Henry's distinguished career in journalism and as an author. The clarity and eloquence of his reporting has earned him so many fans across the country and around the world.”

Henry had been the News Letter political editor for almost exactly a year, having had a 23-year association with The Guardian and The Observer newspapers.

His first break into journalism was almost three years spent with the Irish News between 1989 and 1991, including being sent to the Middle East to report on the Gulf War.

During a career in journalism spanning five decades, he was also a prolific author of both fiction and non-fiction.

His first work was published back in 1993 'Irishbatt" which charted the history of the Irish military's UN peacekeeping operations in Lebanon.

He has co-authored three books including ‘INLA-Deadly Divisions’ written with the late Jack Holland.

Henry also co-wrote ‘UVF-The Endgame’ and ‘UDA-Inside The Heart of Loyalist Terror’ with Jim Cusack.

In 1999 he published the first biography of David Trimble and has also written a memoir of life growing up in the middle of the Troubles ‘Colours-Ireland from Bombs to Boom’.

His last non-fiction work was a dissection of how Sinn Fein camouflaged its many 360 degree turns from revolutionary violence to compromise in his book 'Gunsmoke and Mirrors'.

His two works of fiction – The Swinging Detective and Two Souls – were published in 2017 and 2019 to critical acclaim.

A father-of-three, Henry grew up in the nationalist Markets area of Belfast in the early years of the Troubles turmoil, but later was highly critical of Irish republicanism in favour of leftist political ideals, and supported the Workers Party.

Educated at St Malachy's College grammar school in the north of the city, he later read Philosophy at Queen's University, before studying journalism in Dublin.

Henry’s sister, Cathy McDonald, said: "Henry was writing since he was able to put a pencil in his hand. He was an amazing brother."

The News Letter editor Ben Lowry said: "We were delighted when such an outstanding journalist joined our team last year, and from his very first day here he was bursting with ideas and stories.

"Henry's death leaves a major hole in the paper, and all the staff send their deepest sympathies to his family."

Away from political journalism, Henry was a passionate supporter of both Everton and Cliftonville football clubs and was a regular attender at both stadiums.

On Saturday his image lit up the big screen at Everton’s Goodison Park while a minute of applause took place at Cliftonville’s Solitude as a mark of respect.

Henry was also a familiar face on the Belfast punk rock scene in the early 80s and retained a love of music throughout his life, developing a more eclectic taste in music over the years.

In the mid eighties Henry was the front man of a punk band who were making waves on the Belfast music scene.

Described following his death by Northern Ireland musician David Holmes as “one of the first punks in Belfast”, Henry, who was influenced by The Clash and Joy Division, formed Flea Circus with long time collaborator Joe Rooney on guitar, Mark Campbell on bass and Michael Douglas on drums.

In 2018, Henry became aware he had a serious heart condition, and it was due to this diagnosis that doctors subsequently discovered he also had a cancerous tumour in his stomach which required chemotherapy, and which he later seemed to have defeated. More recently Henry developed sepsis and was also informed that his cancer had returned.

Only weeks ago, aware of his diagnosis, he told his editor that he was itching to get back to cover all the ongoing political developments in Northern Ireland.

Henry will be buried tomorrow (Tuesday) after a funeral service at the Oh Yeah centre in the Cathedral Quarter of Belfast.