Widespread shock at death of Derry journalist Brian Hutton

There was widespread shock across the North West and far beyond as news broke of the sudden death of journalist, Brian Hutton (46).

Mr Hutton, who was originally from Derry and late of Harold's Cross, passed away on December 31 suddenly, but peacefully, at Letterkenny University Hospital, surrounded by his loving family.

His death notice said: "Brian was much loved and will be sadly missed by his daughter Issy, her mum Aideen McLoughlin, parents Damian and Eileen, brothers Kevin and Sean, sister Mairead, partner Emer Cosgrove, mother-in-law, sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews, extended family and a large circle of friends. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam."

Mr Hutton's wake took place at his family home, Aberfoyle Crescent, Derry on Wednesday, January 4 and Thursday, January 5.

His removal will take place tomorrow (Friday) at 11.20am for Funeral Mass at 12:00noon followed by burial in St. Mura’s Cemetery, Fahan.

Brian Hutton was deputy news editor of the Press Association (PA) news agency for more than a decade and was based in its Dublin office until 2017. He also wrote extensively for The Irish Times as a freelance journalist over the past five years.

In addition, Brian Hutton was a founding co-director of independent radio production company Old Yard Productions. Documentaries and programmes made by the company included the New York International Radio Awards finalist The Carberrys: Running in the Family, and Van Morrison: Belfast Cowboy, for ABC Australia.

As part of the Irish Times tribute to Mr Hutton, written by Seanín Graham, the paper’s Northern Correspondent, the former Ireland editor of the PA, Deric Henderson described him as “hugely gifted”.

Deric Henderson said: “He went about his business quietly, free of drama or any fuss, and never failed to meet a deadline, no matter how tight.

“He had a lovely manner and that’s probably why he was so good at his job. He got on well with people. They liked him.”
Brian Hutton was educated at St Columb’s College in Derry. He began his career at the Belfast Telegraph in 2003. He did freelance ‘stringer’ work for the Daily Mirror, providing northwest coverage until 2004.

President Michael D Higgins said Mr Hutton was “a fine journalist and known as a brilliant colleague with a reputation for reliability and a sensitive nature.

“He will be missed by so many,” Mr Higgins said in a statement.

The editor of The Irish Times, Ruadhán Mac Cormaic, said Mr Hutton was “a superb journalist whose sharp news instinct, observational skill and natural curiosity meant his byline invariably appeared on the biggest and most important stories. He was also great company: warm, open, interested in other people.”

Mr Hutton was involved in The Irish Times Lives Lost initiative during the Covid pandemic, and in a separate project last summer that chronicled all violent deaths of women in Ireland over the past 25 years.

The northern editor of The Irish Times, Freya McClements, said he was “the best of journalists, the best of friends and the best of men”:

She added: “In the last week alone Brian featured prominently in reports of the release of the State papers and it is fitting that his byline was above another article in the paper on the day he died.”

McClements singled out the role played by Mr Hutton in coverage of the Northern Ireland Assembly elections in May and the explosion in Creeslough, Co Donegal, which killed 10 people in October.

“As a journalist, Brian was curious, quick-witted and with a keen news sense; he was also warm and genuine.

“Above all, he was a devoted father to his daughter Issy.”

Brian Hutton’s excellent article of December 1, 2022, resonated with many people in Derry and the wider North West. It was written in response to the announcement by BBC NI it was proposing to axe Radio Foyle’s Breakfast Show and hourly news bulletins.

Titled: ‘Radio Foyle cuts blamed on ‘Belfast-centric’ arrogance’ Mr Hutton included a contribution from Ana Leddy, who ran the station for eight years. Ms Leddy believed the axing of the breakfast show and news bulletins would be a “killer blow” to the station.

In Brian Hutton’s article, Anna Leddy said: “‘There is a different psyche in Derry.

“‘It is not just that it is, obviously, predominantly Catholic or nationalist, but its natural hinterland runs north and west into Donegal, adding deeper complexity to an existing divergence in the North between the east and west of the river Bann.

“‘So many families are intertwined, living and working across the Border. People carry two wallets, two purses, with euro and pounds. It is a state of mind. You wouldn’t have it anywhere else.’

“It is a complexity Leddy negotiated to steer the station towards countless awards, including beating BBC behemoths Radio 4 and Radio 5 Live to win the Sony overall UK best radio breakfast show.

“‘A local radio station should hold a mirror up to its audience, but also be a window to the world,” she says.

“‘Foyle has done that by really knowing its audience. It has been strong enough and courageous enough to do that in a unique situation in Northern Ireland, at an even smaller level in Derry and the northwest in an era where society has emerged from the Troubles, and we all know how fragile that can be,’ she says.

“‘Giving a voice for debate in these times is as important as it’s ever been. Foyle is an important place from that point of view.’”