The editor of the Belfast Telegraph has said he believes the character of the paper will not be changed by the takeover by the Independent News and Media Group. The group, which is headed by Tony O'Reilly bought the Telegraph for £300 million sterling. The paper was sold off as a result of a merger between the British company Trinity PLC and the Mirror Group.

The deal has been strongly criticised by several Ulster Unionist MP's The party's deputy leader, John Taylor, who owns a number of local newspapers in the North, said the move was bad news for the newspaper industry. Speaking on Morning Ireland, he said his opposition has nothing to do with politics but is simply an issue of competition. Mr Taylor said he believed the Monopolies Commission would rule against the purchase. The Belfast Telegraph's editor, Ed Curran, said he believes the paper's editorial integrity will not be affected.