NI people get New Year's honours

Fifty-one people from Northern Ireland have been made CBEs, OBEs or MBEs in the Queen's New Year honours list.

Among those honoured are the chairman of the Special Olympics, a former Irish rugby international and a senior firefighter.

Four people from NI were made CBEs, 15 became OBEs and 32 MBEs.

The Queen's Police Medal was awarded to three police officers and and one firefighter was given the Queen's Fire Service Medal.

Among the CBEs are Leslie Murray the chairman of Tidy Northern Ireland, and Dr John Jenkins, consultant paediatrician at Waveney and Antrim hospitals.

One of the best known OBEs is former police officer Brian McCargo, a popular figure on the sports circuit in Northern Ireland.

He has been involved with many sports including rugby, Gaelic football and athletics but it was primarily his work with the Special Olympics which led to the honour.

Also among those being made an OBE were John Lockett, former principal of Grosvenor Grammar School in Belfast; chairman of the NI Arts Council Rosemary Kelly and Belfast City Council treasurer Trevor Salmon.

Former rugby star Trevor Ringland is among the 32 MBEs.

Also honoured are Eilish Steele for services to people with learning disabilities and Harry Green, the chief road safety officer for the DOE.

Fire officer Eoin Doyle received the Queen's Fire Service Medal.