Tributes paid to respected journalist and proud Ballymena man Stephen Walker following death aged 61

The much respected Stephen Walker

Tributes are being paid to award-winning journalist, author and lifelong Ballymena United supporter Stephen Walker, who has died aged 61.

The former BBC Northern Ireland Political Correspondent died at home on Sunday morning, 6 September, surrounded by his family.

Stephen grew up in Ballymena, attended Ballymena Academy and Ballymena Technical College, and retained a deep affection for the town throughout a distinguished broadcasting and writing career spanning more than three decades.

News of his death was shared on Sunday afternoon by his close friend and BBC presenter Mark Carruthers on behalf of Stephen’s family — his wife Katrin, daughter Grace and sons Jack and Gabriel.

Carruthers said:

“So sorry to be the bearer of such sad news, but the Walker family - Katrin, Grace, Jack and Gabriel - have asked me to let people know that Stephen passed away at home this morning surrounded by the people he loved and who loved him.

“He was a wonderful husband, father, brother and son, a fine journalist and author, and the very best of friends.

“We are all heartbroken, but grateful for his life so well and fully lived.”

A proud connection with Ballymena

Although born in England, Stephen was brought up in Ballymena and remained strongly connected to his home town throughout his life.

After attending Ballymena Academy and Ballymena Technical College, he left Northern Ireland in 1983 to study in England, later studying journalism in Portsmouth.

His love of Ballymena was also evident away from journalism. He was a devoted Ballymena United supporter and season ticket holder, maintaining his support for the Sky Blues throughout his career.

In recent years he regularly returned to Ballymena for literary and public events, including appearances at The Braid to discuss his acclaimed political biographies.

North Antrim MP Jim Allister said Stephen’s family was foremost in his thoughts following his death.

“Stephen excelled in his career of journalism, attaining many awards, but he remained a strong family man and it is his wife and family that I first think of at this sad time.

“Through good times and bad he was a loyal supporter of Ballymena United and held the town and district in his heart.

“He will be missed not just in the journalistic world, but much further afield.”

More than three decades reporting Northern Ireland

Stephen began his BBC career with Radio Leeds in 1989 before joining BBC Northern Ireland in 1991.

He arrived at a time when Northern Ireland was experiencing some of the most consequential years of the Troubles and went on to report on events that would shape the region for generations.

His assignments included the Shankill bombing, the paramilitary ceasefires, the Good Friday Agreement and the subsequent peace process. Later, he would also cover Brexit and its political consequences for Northern Ireland.

Stephen spent 12 years as an investigative reporter with BBC Spotlight and also worked as an Assistant Editor.

His work on the Spotlight documentary ‘The Black Catch’, investigating breaches of European fishing quotas, was recognised with a European journalism award in 1995.

In 2001 he received a Royal Television Society award for ‘The Life and Death of an IRA Quartermaster’, an investigation into the killing of IRA member Diarmuid O’Neill in London.

That same year Stephen became BBC Northern Ireland’s London Correspondent, reporting from Westminster, before later becoming a Political Reporter and Political Correspondent.

Over the course of his career he interviewed five Prime Ministers and covered countless Westminster, Stormont and council elections, alongside many of the defining political developments in Northern Ireland.

In 2005, he was named Northern Ireland Journalist of the Year.

Stephen was also part of the BBC Newsline team which reported on the death of former First Minister Ian Paisley. That coverage subsequently received an Irish Film and Television Award in 2015.

After 34 years with the BBC, Stephen left the broadcaster in 2023 to pursue freelance work and devote more time to writing.

Reflecting on his departure at the time, he described working for the BBC as “the privilege of my life”, saying he had seen Northern Ireland “in the bad days and on the good days”.

‘Wisdom, humour and generosity’

Tributes from colleagues and friends have reflected not only Stephen’s standing as a journalist, but the warmth with which he was regarded by those who knew and worked alongside him.

Sky News US Correspondent, David Blevins said:

“He always had the words. I’m struggling to find them. An incisive writer, compelling broadcaster and a real friend. Stephen Walker’s wisdom, humour and generosity made the world a better place.”

Journalist and author Sam McBride described the news as “dreadfully sad”.

“This is dreadfully sad news. Stephen was a consumate BBC journalist, a fair-minded biographer, and a wonderful human being who generously gave both advice and friendship to me and to so many others. He’s gone so long before his time.”

An acclaimed author

Alongside broadcasting, Stephen developed a successful career as an author, eventually writing five books spanning Irish history, war, sport and some of the most significant political figures of modern Northern Ireland.

His first book, ‘Forgotten Soldiers: The Irishmen Shot at Dawn’, was published in 2007 and shortlisted for the Irish Non-Fiction Book of the Year.

He followed it in 2011 with ‘Hide and Seek: The Irish Priest in the Vatican Who Defied the Nazi Command’, telling the story of Monsignor Hugh O’Flaherty and his efforts to save people from the Nazis during the Second World War.

‘Ireland’s Call: Irish Sporting Heroes Who Fell in the Great War’ was published in 2015.

In the later years of his career, Stephen turned his attention to two of the political figures whose work he had observed at close quarters as a journalist.

His acclaimed biography ‘John Hume: The Persuader’ was published in 2023, drawing on more than 100 interviews to explore the life, politics and legacy of the former SDLP leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner.

His fifth and final book, ‘David Trimble: Peacemaker’, examined the life of the former Ulster Unionist leader, inaugural First Minister and fellow Nobel laureate who played a central role in securing the 1998 Good Friday Agreement.

Together, the two biographies formed a significant record of two very different political leaders whose careers helped shape modern Northern Ireland.

For Ballymena, however, Stephen Walker was more than the familiar face and voice who reported some of Northern Ireland’s biggest stories.

He was someone who never lost his connection with the town in which he grew up — returning to speak at local events, maintaining old friendships and continuing to follow the fortunes of Ballymena United.

Across journalism, politics and his home town, the tributes following his death reflect a man respected for his professionalism and judgement, but remembered just as strongly for his friendship, generosity and humour.

Stephen is survived by his wife Katrin, daughter Grace and sons Jack and Gabriel.