Dean Jack Shearer, better known as Belfast's Black Santa, died last night. He was 74 and was due to retire from his position in May of this year.
He had been Dean of Belfast since 1985 and was a city institution due to his annual collections outside St Anne's Cathedral in the days before Christmas. His most recent collection raised more than £400,000.
Charities which benefitted from included St Vincent de Paul, the Simon Community and Christian Aid, as well as St Paul's School for Travelling Children and the NI Lupus group.
Speaking before Christmas, he said the Black Santa collection had become a tradition in Belfast. "I meet the same people every year."
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Funeral details will be announced later.