BRITAIN:The former police ombudsman Nuala O'Loan has been appointed a dame in the British New Year honours list.
Tom Kelly from Northern Ireland, who succeeded Alistair Campbell as Tony Blair's chief spokesman, is also honoured in the list.
An Englishwoman based in Ballymena, Co Antrim, and married to SDLP Assembly member Declan O'Loan, Mrs O'Loan held one of the most challenging, often controversial, high-profile posts in Northern Ireland.
Her function in the ombudsman role, which she vacated in November, was to hold the PSNI publicly accountable and thereby assist in the difficult task of making the police service generally acceptable in Northern Ireland.
She was often the centre of controversy, particularly over her damning judgment on how the RUC handled its investigation of the 1998 Omagh bombing and over her findings of RUC special branch collusion with loyalist paramilitaries in north Belfast. Nonetheless, when she left office a matter of weeks ago her approval rating from both sections of the community was high.
Northern Secretary Shaun Woodward, congratulating Mrs O'Loan - who will be referred to as Dame Nuala O'Loan - said: "During her seven years in office, Nuala always acted with great courage and integrity. She played a major role in ensuring that the PSNI was amongst the most accountable police services in the world."
Tom Kelly, who for six years until Mr Blair's retirement was the prime minister's official spokesman, was appointed a CB - a companion of the most honourable Order of the Bath. From Coleraine, Co Derry, he was a key figure in Mr Blair's effective kitchen cabinet. He had previously been director of communications in the Northern Ireland Office and BBC Northern Ireland's political editor.
Dennis Godfrey, who for nine years was deputy director of communications at the NIO, was appointed a CBE - a commander of the Order of the British Empire. Similar to Mr Kelly, he held his high-ranking post during key phases of the peace process, including the period leading to the formation of the powersharing Northern Executive in May. Mr Godfrey, from Belfast, is now a senior adviser to former northern secretary Peter Hain.
There were two knighthoods in the Northern Ireland element of the list. Nigel Hamilton, head of the North's civil service since 2002, was appointed a knights commander of the most honourable Order of the Bath. Dr Patrick Haren, deputy chairman of the North's electricity company, Veridian, was conferred a knights bachelor.
Eileen Bell, a former Alliance Assembly member who was speaker of the transitional Assembly in 2006, was made a CBE. Ulster Unionist North Belfast Assembly member Fred Cobain was appointed an MBE, the only serving MLA to be mentioned in the Northern list.
Rev Paul Symonds, parish priest of Harryville Catholic Church in Ballymena, which was subjected to a loyalist sectarian blockade in 1996, was made an OBE for services to community relations and reconciliation in Northern Ireland.
Dr Maeve Kyle, chairwoman of Coaching Northern Ireland, was made an OBE for her services to athletics. Gerry Storey received an MBE for his contribution to promoting the cross-community sport of boxing, while Ronnie McFall, long associated with Portadown football club, received an MBE. PSNI assistant chief constable Duncan McCausland received an OBE. David Lavery, director general of the North's court service, was made a CB.
