Ex-journalist dies at 61

Mr Patrick Smyllie, a former journalist with The Irish Times, has died, aged 61.

Mr Patrick Smyllie, a former journalist with The Irish Times, has died, aged 61.

Mr Smyllie was born in Cheshire, England, and grew up in Dublin. He joined The Irish Times as a junior reporter in 1956. He left the paper in 1968 to work in Britain and Northern Ireland.

Mr Smyllie returned to The Irish Times in the 1970s and was a night town editor and assistant editor before leaving to pursue a career in public relations.

He is survived by his wife, Gillian, mother Dorothy, three children and a sister.