Former BBC Ireland Correspondent David Capper has died at the age of 91.
Capper was a familiar presence on TV and radio for his reporting on the Troubles, including covering the tragic events of Bloody Sunday and Bloody Friday.
Adam Smyth, Director, BBC NI has paid tribute and described Mr Capper as a "journalistic icon". "BBC Northern Ireland has lost a journalistic icon. David was the epitome of impartial and courageous reporting in the public interest. He was an eyewitness to some of the most harrowing events of The Troubles, including Bloody Sunday, and could be fully relied upon to provide a trusted account of what he saw," he said.
Former BBC Ireland Correspondent David Capper has sadly died at the age of 91. (BBC)"Many senior figures in local journalism also have David to thank for passing on his considerable skillset to junior reporters starting out in the industry Our deepest condolences go to David's family circle."
Born in Belfast, Capper began his career in journalism at the Newtownards Chronicle. It was with the paper where he covered his first major news story, covering the sinking of the Princess Victoria in 1953. The journalist then spent a few years working in Vancouver, returning to Northern Ireland to edit a local paper, before joining the reporting staff of the Belfast Telegraph. He later moved to the BBC team in Buenos Aires during the Falklands War.
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After 26 years, the father-of-three left the the broadcaster shortly after reporting on the Enniskillen bomb in 1987, but continued to work in media advising emerging radio stations abroad.
Capper's family said he eventually settled in Donaghadee in County Down where he had spent a number of childhood summers. He had three children, Chris, Diarmit and Samantha, and nine grandchildren.
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