A former daily newspaper journalist who reported on the “darkest days” of the Northern Irish Troubles has died aged 56.

Tributes have been paid to David Morgan, who began his career on the Belfast-based Irish News and was also a prominent member of the National Union of Journalists in Northern Ireland.

As well as the News, David went on to work for BBC Northern Ireland and UTV.

He retired as news editor at Citybeat radio in 2011, and had suffered from a long illness.

David was also a former officer of the Northern Ireland broadcasting branch of the National Union of Journalists.

Seamus Dooley, NUJ Irish Secretary, said: “David worked as a journalist during the darkest days of The Troubles.

“He had an abiding interest in current affairs and a genuine commitment to public service broadcasting and to ethical journalism.”

Michael Fisher, former chair of the NI broadcasting branch, added: “David was a loyal union colleague. He came from a journalistic family and took pride in the achievements of his son.

“He will be missed by many colleagues and friends who valued his friendship.”

David was born in Toronto, Canada, but lived in his family’s hometown of Belfast from the age of three.

His wife Christina, who worked in the sales department of the Irish News, died in March 2015 from cancer.

The couple leave one son, Richard, a journalist at the BBC in Northern Ireland.