Donaldson Survivor of the Year award a black twist

IT was a macabre twist worthy of a crime novel - at precisely the same time news broke of Denis Donaldson’s murder last night, a news magazine was about to announce him winner of its Survivor of the Year award.

Several weeks ago, Magill magazine assembled political journalists - including this reporter - to vote on awards including Politician of the Year, Minister of the Year, Gaffe of the Year and Survivor of the Year.

During judging for that last category, one journalist suggested Donaldson.