Stephen Grimason

Stephen Grimason
Personal details
Born27 March 1957
Lurgan, County Armagh, Northern Ireland
Died (aged 67)
OccupationJournalist

Stephen Grimason (27 March 1957– 28 April 2024) was a Northern Irish journalist who was editor of BBC Northern Ireland.[1] He was known for breaking the news of the Good Friday Agreement in April 1998.[2]

Early life

Grimason was born in Lurgan, County Armagh.[3]

Career

Grimason started his career working in local newspapers including the Lurgan Mail, the Ulster Star in Lisburn and Banbridge Chronicle.[4] In 1992, he covered the Teebane bombing, being the first reporter on the scene.[5] He covered the Northern Ireland peace process.[6]

Grimason later worked as director of communications in the Northern Ireland Executive.[4] He held this role from 2001 to 2016.[7]

In January 2024, he was awarded a Queen's University Belfast Chancellor's Medal alongside Ken Reid.[8]

Personal life

Grimason had four children and seven grandchildren.[9] In 2022, his younger brother Darryl Grimason died.[10] He was also television presenter for BBC Northern Ireland.[11] Grimason had a heart attack following the death of his brother.[12]

Death

Grimason died following a long battle with cancer in April 2024, at the age of 67.[13]

References

  1. ^ Media, P. A. (28 April 2024). "Tributes paid to veteran Northern Ireland journalist Stephen Grimason". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 6 May 2024.
  2. ^ "Stephen Grimason: Fiercely competitive, but always a team player". BBC News. 28 April 2024. Retrieved 6 May 2024.
  3. ^ "Former BBC NI political editor Stephen Grimason dies aged 67: 'The audience trusted what he had to say'". BelfastTelegraph.co.uk. 28 April 2024. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 6 May 2024.
  4. ^ a b "Tributes paid following death of veteran Northern Ireland journalist Stephen Grimason". ITV News. 29 April 2024.
  5. ^ Black, Rebecca (28 April 2024). "Tributes paid following death of veteran NI journalist". Belfast Live. Retrieved 6 May 2024.
  6. ^ "Tributes paid following death of veteran journalist Stephen Grimason". The Independent. 28 April 2024. Retrieved 6 May 2024.
  7. ^ "Stephen Grimason: Ex-BBC political editor who broke Good Friday deal dies". BBC News. 28 April 2024. Retrieved 6 May 2024.
  8. ^ "Journalists Stephen Grimason and Ken Reid awarded QUB medals". BBC News. 25 January 2024. Retrieved 6 May 2024.
  9. ^ "Stephen Grimason: Funeral details announced for former BBC NI political editor". BelfastTelegraph.co.uk. 29 April 2024. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 6 May 2024.
  10. ^ Murray, Gemma (22 December 2022). "Darryl Grimason: Tributes pour in after brother Stephen Grimason announces death of 'baby brother'". News Letter.
  11. ^ "Darryl Grimason: Tributes paid after death of BBC presenter". BBC News. 22 December 2022. Retrieved 6 May 2024.
  12. ^ Munro, Lucretia (28 April 2024). "Pioneering BBC journalist Stephen Grimason dies aged 67 after battle with cancer". The Mirror. Retrieved 6 May 2024.
  13. ^ "'That's Stephen Grimason': Former BBC NI political editor 'insisted on scripting' funeral eulogy". BelfastTelegraph.co.uk. 1 May 2024. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 6 May 2024.