Ulster Unionist Leader, Mike Nesbitt MLA, and Danny Kennedy MLA have paid tribute to Austin Hunter, who was tragically killed in a traffic accident in the Middle East.
Mike Nesbitt said:
“When we first met at the BBC, Austin was a great fan of cricket and reported for Sportsound when I was a presenter at BBC NI Sport. We both went on to work for BBC News and Current Affairs and he established a deserved reputation for solid, considered journalism, picking a fine line as he reported at a time of often huge tension and controversy.
“I admired him very much, both as a professional broadcaster and as a fine human being who was always keener on talking about others rather than himself. My thoughts are with the Hunter family at this shocking time.”
Danny Kennedy said:
"Austin Hunter was a distinguished journalist of the highest standards and also a very fine man. He was an outstanding journalist with the BBC and as Editor at the News Letter. Austin covered many stories over the period of The Troubles, not least the story of Kingsmills in which he produced an important documentary which brought to the wider community the full horror of that atrocity. He was at all times professional and scrupulously fair. I extend my heartfelt sympathy to his wife and family at this sad time."