Ken Reid’s funeral details confirmed as family say outpouring of tributes ‘great source of comfort’

Next week, a funeral will be held for veteran political journalist Ken Reid, following expressions of appreciation from his family for the heartfelt tributes and kind messages from the public.

On Wednesday, it was reported that the 69-year-old had died in the hospital following a prolonged illness.

He had been a familiar presence on television in Northern Ireland for many years and retired from UTV in 2021 after spending 27 years with the network.

In 2017, he announced that he had been diagnosed with a type of leukemia.

The funeral will be held at St. Patrick's Parish Church, located on Castle Street in Ballymena, on Thursday, November 28, at 11 a.m., followed by a private cremation, as stated in an announcement on Funeral Times.

The reporter is referred to as the "beloved spouse of Liz, caring dad of Gareth, Sarah, and Sophie, father-in-law to Keith, and dedicated grandfather to Summer and Hugo. He is also a cherished brother to Lynn and a brother-in-law to Stephen."

The First and deputy First Ministers were at the forefront of the widespread expressions of grief and remembrance that came in yesterday from various political backgrounds, as well as from both former and current colleagues, after the announcement of his passing.

Mr. Reid began his career in journalism at the News Letter, where he held the position of sports editor. He subsequently took on the role of editor for the Sunday News from 1984 to 1987.

He worked at the Cork Examiner from 1987 to 1994 before moving to UTV, where he served as the political editor. In that role, he reported on major events in Northern Ireland, including the 1998 Belfast Agreement.

In 2017, Mr. Reid discovered he had a type of leukemia "almost by chance" when he visited a podiatrist for an examination related to a foot infection.

After receiving his diagnosis, he actively supported the blood charity Leukaemia & Lymphoma NI and took on the role of patron for the organization in 2023.

On Thursday, a message shared on X expressed: “The Reid family wants to extend their gratitude to everyone for the heartfelt tributes and thoughtful messages.”

"They have provided a lot of comfort."

Yesterday, First Minister Michelle O’Neill paid tribute to a remarkable figure in local journalism, while Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly noted that he was a familiar presence for many generations.