UTV Ireland, the television channel that launches in the New Year, has appointed Sunday World journalist Mick McCaffrey as its news editor.

Mr McCaffrey is the latest addition to the UTV newsroom, which has been swelling its ranks in the run-up to January with the recent appointment of Newstalk's Chris Donoghue as a news anchor and RTÉ's Paul Colgan as economics editor.

Mr McCaffrey has been an investigative journalist for the Sunday World since March 2011 and he was named crime and secruity journalist of the year at last year's National Newspapers of Ireland journalism awards for his work in tracking down and interviewing John Traynor over the death of Veronica Guerin. He is a former news editor and security editor for the Sunday Tribune and he began his career with the Evening Herald.

Head of channel Mary Curtis said Mr McCaffrey was "an exceptionally talented journalist who has covered some of the most challenging and sensitive stories".

As news editor, Mr McCaffrey will work under UTV Ireland head of news Marcus Lehnen, who has joined the new station from his role as editor of RTÉ's Six-One and nine o'clock bulletins. "Mick and I will work closely together to develop the look and feel for UTV Ireland's news and current affairs offering," Mr Lehnen said.

UTV Ireland, which is expected to employ about 120 people, will shortly move into its new studios in the Dublin Docklands area. It will broadcast an early-evening news programme, Ireland Live, and Ireland Live at 10, a late evening news and current affairs hour.