Warm tributes paid to former Herald journalist

TRIBUTES have been paid to former UH journalist, Jacqueline Courtney, who passed away at the weekend.

Mrs Courtney, who was aged 63, was well-known throughout the district, having spent almost 30 years at the newspaper. During her career, she was responsible for covering some of the biggest stories of the time, including the 1998 Omagh bomb.

Born in 1958, she was one of six children of the late Jack and Frankie Ferris. Mr Ferris was a well-known businessman who ran a successful butcher shop in the town for many years. The family later lived in the Townview Avenue area of Omagh.

Upon leaving school, Jacqueline came to work at the UH in 1977, where she was employed for the next 28 years until her early retirement in 2005.

Her former colleagues at the newspaper paid tribute to her this week, describing her as a popular and talented journalist.

Managing director, Dominic McClements, said that Mrs Courtney would always be remembered as someone who loved to support and help her colleagues, and cared greatly about her community.

“Jacqueline was a very versatile and experienced reporter. With exceptional shorthand skills and a curious mind, she was a leading member of the ‘Herald’s editorial team from 1977 until her early retirement in 2005, and in that time she covered everything from local court sittings to health, education and council meetings.

“But she loved nothing more than writing about local people and their achievements. She was always a very kind and considerate person, and had a great skill at making everyone she met feel at ease in any situation. As a result, she got the best out of people and always painted everyone in a very positive light,” he added.

Jacqueline had two daughters, Naomi, who died as an infant, and Danielle, who lives in Belfast with her husband, Vincent and their two children, Niall and Enda.

Danielle spoke to the UH about the type of person her mother was.

She said, “I always thought my mum was the best-dressed woman in the town. She took real pride in herself and her work, which she loved.

“She was a strong-willed, independent woman, who never let anything get her down. Even after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, she just got on with things.

“She loved her job, she loved talking to different kinds of people and hearing their stories. I have fond memories of being on picnics and things when I was younger, and my mum would be writing her copy for the next day.

“She was a great mum who made sure I never wanted for anything growing up.”

Requiem Mass took place in St Mary’s Church, Killyclogher on Tuesday, and was concelebrated by Fr Kevin McElhennon, PP and Jacqueline’s brother, Paul who is a Deacon in South Dublin.

She was interred at Greenhill Cemetery beside her infant daughter, Naomi.

Mrs Courtney is survived by her daughter Danielle, son-in-law Vincent Caddell, grandchildrenNiall and Enda, sister Annette Grimes and brothers Martin Ferris, Paul Ferris, Peter Ferris MBE and Dr Irvine Ferris.