LAST UPDATE | 7 Mar
TRIBUTES HAVE BEEN paid to BBC journalist and Co Wexford native Nick Sheridan, who has died at the age of 32.
He worked for BBC Scotland and previously worked for RTÉ, where he was the host of the children’s TV news programme, news2day.
As well as his career in journalism, Nick was also an author of children’s books, such as ‘Breaking News: How to Tell What’s Real From What’s Rubbish’ which helped children to combat disinformation in the news cycle.
Gary Smith, Head of News at BBC Scotland, said Nick was “one of those rare people who light up the lives of everyone around them”.
He described Nick as “funny, clever, and kind” and sent his condolences to Nick’s family and friends.
So terribly sad to read this. It is truly awful. Nick was young, talented, vivacious, and full of potential. What a horrible, senseless loss. My thoughts are with his family, colleagues and many friends 💔 https://t.co/1hSXoLCf5L
— Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) March 7, 2024
Former first minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon also sent her condolences to Nick’s family and friends, and remarked that Nick was “talented, vivacious, and full of potential”.
Scotland’s current first minister Humza Yousaf also paid tribute to Nick during First Minister’s Questions at Holyrood today.
Humza said: “I wanted to say on behalf of the Scottish Government and the party I lead how sad we were about the tragic news of the loss of Nick Sheridan.
“Nick was an extremely talented journalist and author, he will be greatly missed.
“My thoughts are with his family, his many friends and indeed his colleagues at what will undoubtedly be a very sad time.”
Elsewhere, RTÉ’s director general Kevin Bakhurst has described Nick as “a hugely talented journalist; a popular and supportive colleague; a genuinely decent and kind man”.
“There’s deep sadness from everyone who had the pleasure of working with him at RTÉ and his colleagues who I know at BBC Scotland.”
The managing director RTÉ News and Current Affairs Deirdre McCarthy said she was “devastated by the very sad news of Nick’s sudden death”.
McCarthy added: “Nick joined the news2day team as a young journalism graduate and under the guidance of programme editors Avril Hoare and Annemarie Smyth he developed into an outstanding journalist and presenter.
“We were delighted to see him go on to join BBC Scotland and to become a successful children’s author.”
Nick was a hugely talented journalist; a popular and supportive colleague; a genuinely decent and kind man. There’s deep sadness from everyone who had the pleasure of working with him at RTÉ and his colleagues who I know at BBC Scotland https://t.co/jjLLlRZwDi
— Kevin Bakhurst (@kevinbakhurst) March 7, 2024
News2day, which Nick presented wrote on X that, as well as being hardworking, he had “a sense of fun and mischief which would brighten your day”.
Nick attended Dublin City University and graduated from its journalism class of 2013.
DCU’s School of Communications today said it was deeply saddened by Nick’s passing, and added that it followed with pride his career both as a journalist and a children’s author.
The Journal’s senior media producer Nicky Ryan has also paid tribute, describing Nick Sheridan as a “wonderful friend, amazing person, and an incredibly talented journalist”.
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