Recently retired 20-time champion jockey AP McCoy from Moneyglass, Co Antrim, has received a knighthood in the British new year's honours list for services to horse racing. McCoy is one 79 people from Northern Ireland honoured by Queen Elizabeth. Most are commended for their work to a variety of grassroots' organisations. McCoy had been tipped for a knighthood after his retirement in April, which ended a glittering career spanning more than two decades in which he rode more than 4,300 winners.
World champion boxer Carl Frampton, from north Belfast, is one of 26 to be given a Member of the British Empire (MBE) award, along with veteran broadcaster and writer Anne Hailes.
The former Lord Mayor of Belfast, the SDLP’s Pat McCarthy, has received an MBE for services to local government and community cohesion in the awards, which were announced last night.
Troubles
Actor James Nesbitt says that receiving the Order of the British Empire (OBE) will "give credence" to the cause of those searching for information about loved ones killed in the conflict in North. The Coleraine man, who starred in the film Bloody Sunday, is a patron on the Wave Trauma Centre, which supports people bereaved or injured during the Troubles.
Anne O’Reilly of the Women’s Aid Federation Northern Ireland is also awarded an OBE for services to older people and the voluntary sector.
A Commander of the British Empire (CBE) accolade has been given to Gerald Lavery, a senior finance director with the Northern Executive's Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, for services to the agri-food industry.
Maxwell George Murray, a senior civil servant with the Department of Justice, is awarded a CBE for services to the Northern Ireland Prison Service and engineering.