THE DEATH has occurred of Bill Murdoch a former Business Editor of The Irish Times. He was 72.

After an early career as a radio operator in the Irish merchant navy, Mr Murdoch joined The Irish Timesin 1968 as a sub-editor before establishing a name as a reporter with the newspaper's business team.

He rose quickly through the ranks and, having left briefly to become the founding editor of Irish Business magazine in 1975, he rejoined The Irish Timesand was appointed Business Editor in January 1978.

In his writing, he specialised in the corporate affairs of domestic companies. His career of more than 30 years at the newspaper covered a period of rapid change for business in Ireland and for the newspaper industry itself.

Mr Murdoch retired from The Irish Times in 2001. He continued to write for the newspaper on a range of issues, most recently penning a monthly Platform column for Business This Week.

He also collated the newspaper's popular annual Christmas business quiz for many years.

Mr Murdoch is survived by his wife Bernadette.