The King’s Birthday Honours list has been released, with several individuals from Northern Ireland being recognised for their public service. Among them is Mairtin Mac Gabhann, the father of Dáithí Mac Gabhann, whose campaign for organ donation reform inspired a change in legislation. While accepting the MBE honour has not been an easy decision for him, Mairtin says that his son’s campaign is bigger than politics. Other notable honorees include Bronagh Hinds, co-founder of Northern Ireland’s Women’s Coalition and Det Ch Insp John Caldwell, who survived a murder attempt by dissident republicans last year.
Jim Harra, the head of HMRC, has been knighted and Clodagh Dunlop, a police officer who campaigned for stroke services reform, was appointed an MBE, as was Lindsay Robinson, a perinatal mental health campaigner. Finally, Professor Donna Fitzsimons was appointed OBE; she is the head of Queen’s University’s School of Nursing and Midwifery.
The King’s Birthday Honours list acknowledges the contributions of individuals from across the UK and Northern Ireland. Mairtin Mac Gabhann, who hails from west Belfast, says that receiving the MBE is an acknowledgement of the success of Dáithí’s Law. The law was named after his son, who has been on the waiting list for a heart transplant since 2018. Mr Mac Gabhann has been careful not to politicise his campaign, and believes that organ donation is an issue that transcends politics.
Bronagh Hinds, the co-founder of Northern Ireland’s Women’s Coalition, has been appointed CBE for her work promoting women’s rights and peace. Clodagh Dunlop, who has worked tirelessly to improve stroke services, is now an MBE. Lindsay Robinson, who has campaigned for better perinatal mental health services, is also an MBE recipient. Finally, Professor Donna Fitzsimons, the head of the School of Nursing and Midwifery at Queen’s University, has been appointed OBE.
The full list of Birthday Honours recipients from Northern Ireland includes several Commanders and Officers of the Order of the British Empire, as well as Members of the Order of the British Empire. These honours recognise individuals who have made significant contributions to fields such as healthcare, the economy, and social housing
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