The death has taken place of Liam Healy, the former deputy chairman and chief executive of Independent News & Media. He was 86 years old and had been ill for some time.

Mr Healy, who was a close associate of the former controlling shareholder in INM, Sir Anthony O’Reilly, was chief executive of the media group from 1991 to 2000.

During that period the business expanded internationally and Mr Healy’s work involved a huge amount of travelling as he kept a close eye on the group’s various divisions.

He stepped down from the role of chief executive to take on the role of deputy chairman in 2000, with Sir Anthony taking on the role of executive chairman.

At the time Sir Anthony said he would “like to pay a warm tribute to Liam Healy who has been an outstanding chief executive and has led the development of Independent News & Media plc during the period in which it has become a major international communications group.”

Independent chairman Leslie Buckley, said it was with great sadness that he had heard of the passing of Mr Healy.

“On behalf of the board and the editorial and management staff, I extend our sincerest condolences to his wife Eithne and to his family.”

Mr Healy retired from the board of INM in 2008. He is survived by his wife and their children Eoin, Orla and Ciara.