The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, and the British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, have paid warm tributes to the Belfast-born journalist and broadcaster, Mr Vincent Hanna, who has died after suffering a heart attack. He was 57. Mr Hanna, a lawyer who was involved in the civil rights movement of the late 1960s and who subsequently enjoyed a very successful career in journalism, died in the Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, yesterday. Members of his family were by his side.
Mr Hanna, who had undertaken what friends described as a "punishing work schedule" in recent months, had been presenting BBC Radio Ulster's popular Talkback programme while the main presenter, Mr David Dunseith, was on holiday. At the same time he was carrying out work for BBC Radio 4 and doing an after-midnight programme for BBC Radio 5 Live.
Mr Hanna's father-in-law, Lord Gerry Fitt, suffered chest pains while visiting the hospital and was detained for treatment for a suspected heart attack. Lord Fitt's condition last night was described as "comfortable".
Mr Hanna was noted for his individualistic, witty and insightful presentation of political programmes. He was well-known on BBC radio and television and presented the weekly Channel 4 programme, A Week in Politics, with Andrew Rawnsley. Born on the Falls Road in Belfast, his family later moved to south Belfast and then to Fortwilliam in north Belfast. His father, Frank, a prominent solicitor, was a Labour MP, which gave Mr Hanna a left-leaning background which was far removed from the sectarian upbringing of many of his contemporaries.
In an interview in last Saturday's Irish News, he said: "I was brought up as a Catholic in terms of my education, but I moved away into non-sectarian education. To me, where you worship is an entirely private thing."
He studied at Trinity College, Dublin, Harvard and in Paris. He became a lawyer, as did his two brothers and two sisters, and during the civil rights campaign he was secretary of the Northern Ireland Society of Labour Lawyers.
His journalistic career effectively began on the Sunday Times in the early 1970s. He later moved to the BBC, where he quickly established himself as a broadcaster who injected vigour and humour into his reports and interviews.
Mr Pat Loughrey, controller of BBC Northern Ireland, described Mr Hanna as one of the best journalists of his generation. "He had a profound insight into politics and politicians, but combined his analytical skill with a human touch. He was loved and respected by all who knew him. Our thoughts at this sad time must be with his family."
Mr Ahern described him as a most talented journalist who, on topics relating to Ireland, had displayed a "profound knowledge of all the complexities which pervade our political lives".
Mr Hanna is survived by his wife, Joan, a native of Belfast, and daughters, Emily Elizabeth (21) and Sinead Eileen (16).
