Senior figures from the worlds of journalism and politics have paid tribute to a regional daily’s former Westminster correspondent who died following an accident.

Des McCartan, left, who worked in the parliamentary lobby for many years for the Belfast Telegraph, died after a fall in which he fractured his skull.

After leaving the Bel Tel in 2001, he went on to work for former Foreign Secretary Robin Cook, who at that point was Leader of the House of Commons.

Des, who was 68, was taken to St Mary’s Hospital in West London after the accident on 22 March, but never regained consciousness and his life support was removed last week.

Among those to have paid tribute is Tony Blair’s former spin doctor Alastair Campbell, who also worked with Des as a lobby journalist.

In an obituary on the Bel Tel’s website, he said: “I am so sad to hear of Des’s death. He was a fine journalist and a good man. He was a kind, courteous and helpful colleague when I was a fellow lobby reporter, and someone who was always straight and good-natured when I dealt with him as Tony Blair’s press secretary.

“He was acutely aware of the special place in the politics of Northern Ireland that the Bel Tel had, and he took real care over what he reported and thought deeply about the impact his reporting could have.

“He cared deeply about the story because he cared deeply about where he came from.”

Born in Larne in 1948, Des joined the Bel Tel at the age of 20 having started out as a trainee on the East Antrim Times.

Bel Tel editor Gail Walker said: “Over many years of momentous incidents and historic upheaval in parliament and at home, Des provided a steady analysis in every sense – measured, balanced, insightful and authoritative.

“In a profession often wrongly caricatured, he was one of those journalists who went about their work quietly, credibly and with huge integrity.

“Des was also a wonderfully warm and decent human being, qualities which helped him to build an enviable network of contacts and endeared him to many younger journalists, including myself, whom he mentored with great generosity of time, spirit and friendship. He was vastly respected and will be very much missed by his colleagues in this newspaper and elsewhere.”

Former Bel Tel editor Martin Lindsay added: “I remember Des coming into the East Antrim Times when I worked there and he was still at school.

“He brought in pigeon notes and when I left he was appointed trainee reporter. He later moved to the Belfast Telegraph and I recall working with him on many stories.

“Most vividly I recall us covering the Bloody Friday bombings in Belfast. One explosion just beside our offices went off shaking the whole building. I was dictating a story to Des, who was typing. As I stopped speaking in shock, he said, ‘Do you want a full stop here or a comma?’

“Des was very highly thought of at Westminster and his appointment as chair of the lobby correspondents – a prestigious post among political journalists – was proof of the esteem he was held in by his peers.”

A requiem mass in honour of Des is to be held at Ealing Abbey, London, at 2pm on Friday 21 April, followed by cremation at Mortlake Crematorium at 4.45pm.