The group business editor at Independent News & Media (INM) has said she is leaving the role.

Dearbhail McDonald joined the media group back in 2006 as legal editor.

In a post on Twitter on Friday, she said: "I'm stepping down from @Independent_ie #INM after almost 13 years working with some of the best journalists in Ireland to pursue new interests of my own.

"It has been an absolute privilege - a new, exciting chapter begins."

On this #BrexitDay, announcing a little exit of my own... I’m stepping down from @Independent_ie #INM after almost 13 years working with some of the best journalists in Ireland to pursue new interests of my own. It has been an absolute privilege - a new, exciting chapter begins. pic.twitter.com/RMa7Q9n7dp

— Dearbhail McDonald (@DearbhailDibs) March 29, 2019

McDonald, who hails from Newry, studied law at Trinity College Dublin and also holds a Masters in Journalism from Dublin City University (DCU).

She previously worked as a reporter for The Sunday Times, before moving to INM in 2006.

INM publishes the Irish Independent, Sunday Independent, The Herald, Sunday World, the Belfast Telegraph and others - as well as several weekly regional newspapers.

Independent House newspaper offices on Talbot Street in Dublin | Image: Leah Farrell/RollingNews.ie

She has held positions there such a legal editor and associate editor, before being made group business editor in 2016.

Most recently, she looked at why Irish are having less children in the RTÉ documentary 'Fertility Shock'.

Couples are leaving it later and later to have children, and when they do they are having less.

McDonald talked about why she chose to freeze her eggs and the dangers of a global baby bust.