Charlie Bird's widow Claire has said she has had "highs and lows" following the death of her husband last March aged 74 after his battle with Motor Neuron Disease.
"I feel really sad that Charlie went through such a hard time, and the last six months, it really upset me to see him having such a hard time with MND.
"It’s more sadness, not anger, because it is life, but I just felt, 'Oh my God, why Bird?’"
Claire also revealed that she carries her late husband’s ashes in a locket he gifted her three years ago.
She appeared on Miriam’s show to discuss Ransom ‘79, a new documentary in which the veteran reporter, who covered some of the biggest stories of the last forty years, tackles his very last investigation.
The new film, on which Claire worked as an executive producer, tells the extraordinary true story of how a criminal gang tried to extort millions of pounds from the Irish government.
"Charlie’s work kept him alive and kept him busy," she said. "The effort that Charlie put into doing this documentary. He loved this story.
"He had a nose for journalism and he wanted to do this story, even though his MND was moving along quite fast. I think it’s an amazing piece."
Claire also said that the couple "bawled all the way home" after Charlie received his diagnosis in 2021.
"We used to do this every evening, five o'clock, we'd have a gin and tonic and we'd have one hour where we'd literally pretend life was normal, when Charlie could drink," she said.
"We'd sit there and we would just pretend life is normal and it'd be that one hour.
"So, we'd always have moments where we'd try and pretend. Well, not pretend, but just have that moment of not thinking about it."
She added that looking after someone who is so ill is a "full-time job".
"The mental health side of MND, behind closed doors, he would be like anyone else with a terminal illness, he would be really upset," she said.
"He would have his dark days, and I’d have to just help him try and get out of that."
Ransom '79 is in cinemas this Friday
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