JOHN ARMSTRONG: JOHN ARMSTRONG, who has died aged 65, was a former news editor of The Irish Times. He worked for almost 33 years at the paper, which he joined as a reporter in 1969; he also served as night editor.
As news editor he was instrumental in the decision to publish the Bishop Eamon Casey story. In January 1992 he took a phone call from Arthur Pennell, in the US, partner of Annie Murphy. She claimed to have had an affair for several years with the Bishop of Galway and that he was the father of her then 17-year-old child, Peter.
There was much at stake in publishing such a story. A senior churchman, who was consulted, warned if the story proved to be untrue the church would “destroy” The Irish Times.
Irish Times editor Kevin O’Sullivan said as news editor Armstrong played a critical role in the generation of some of the most significant news stories published in the newspaper at that time.
Born in 1946, he was the only child of Keith and Esther Armstrong. Growing up in Dalkey, Co Dublin, he attended St Patrick’s national school and King’s Hospital. At Trinity College Dublin he studied for a general studies degree, specialising in fine arts. He also edited Trinity News.
On joining The Irish Times he covered education, working with Michael Heney and later John Horgan.
In 1975 he reported on the siege in Monasterevin, Co Kildare, in which Dr Tiede Herrema was held hostage by maverick republicans.
With colleagues such as Geraldine Kennedy and Michael O’Regan he also wrote reports from the Dáil and Seanad.
In the 1980s he reported on the Troubles and in 1987, he and Carol Coulter covered the Birmingham Six appeal in London against their convictions for the Birmingham bombings. Their convictions were later overturned.
He also wrote about Tipperary farmer John Hanrahan, who won a high-profile battle against pharmaceutical company Merck, Sharp and Dohme over emissions from one of its plants.
In January 1981 he wrote what became known as the “small potatoes” story, concerning a US diplomat unhappy with his lot in Dublin.
Robin Berrington had circulated a new year’s letter to state department colleagues in Washington, a copy of which found its way to The Irish Times office.
Armstrong quoted Berrington describing Ireland as “pretty small potatoes”. The one bright spot was the people, but he complained of “the high cost of goods, their unavailability, the dreary urban scapes, the constant strikes and the long, dark and damp winters”.
The Irish Times praised Berrington as a rare diplomat who spoke his mind, but he was given 48 hours to leave the country by his ambassador. Nevertheless, public reaction to Berrington’s report was generally favourable.
Following his retirement in 2002, Armstrong wrote a column on fine art and antiques.
An able sportsman in his younger days, he played cricket, tennis, rugby, table tennis and snooker. In later life he turned to bridge, golf and chess. He was an excellent cook.
His interest in photography enabled him to record his many travels, which included reaching the summit of Kilimanjaro. He loved books, cinema and the arts, and was a devoted father and grandfather; in recent years he frequently visited the National Gallery with his grandchildren.
Described as very likeable, dry, tough and mildly eccentric, he will be sorely missed.
His former wife Marion McDonald, daughters Katy and Rachel, son David, son-in-law Michael, granddaughters Evie and Emma, and friend Maria Oleinik survive him.
John Armstrong: born July 3rd, 1946; died May 24th, 2012.