Career
Donlan worked for the Daily Mail for 25 years at their offices in London and Manchester. In 1971 he moved to rival tabloid The Sun where he became news editors He was briefly editor of the News of the World from 1980 to 1981 before returning to The Sun as managing editors
In 1989 he became the first national newspaper ombudsman in the United Kingdom.
Donlan died at the age of 66 in Chislehurst.