Ahern leads tributes after journalist's death

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern led the tributes to journalist Mary Holland who died last night.

“She was a courageous journalist whose coverage of Northern Ireland was hugely influential in eliminating political complexity as well as unfolding human tragedy of the past 35 years,” Mr Ahern said.

Ms Holland had been a journalist for many years with the Irish Times and The Observer.

Ms Holland, who was 69, had been in failing health for many years and died shortly before midnight at St Vincent’s Hospital in Dublin. She is survived by her daughter Kitty and her son Luke.

“Her reporting in The Observer of the unfolding drama of the civil rights movement and early years of the troubles, together with her later work over many years at The Irish Times, was a formative influence on the public’s understanding of the troubles,” Mr Ahern said.