Downes was reared in Edenmore on Northside Dublin, born the ninth of ten children.

[2] Downes's career in journalism started in 1985 in London, where he worked for the Press Association, Reuters, and the Financial Times.

[3] He grew to know the country and was sent to report on the Desert Fox aerial assault against Saddam Hussein which took place that December.

[1] He left before Saddam Hussein's statue was toppled, claiming he was "at an advanced stage of psychological disintegration" and that the pressure on his family was too much to bear.

[5] Downes was only allowed to stay in the country for a period of three days but he returned disguised as a tourist and filmed a secret report for the BBC's Newsnight.

[6] When Bird announced his premature departure from the role, Downes was rumoured by the Evening Herald to replace him.