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| New Year Honours: First NI female firefighter is appointed MBE | |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Northern Ireland's first female firefighter has been honoured in the New Year Honours List. | Northern Ireland's first female firefighter has been honoured in the New Year Honours List. |
| Heather Smart was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE). | |
| The oldest person from across the UK to receive an award is Robert Lingwood, 100, a World War Two veteran from County Tyrone. | The oldest person from across the UK to receive an award is Robert Lingwood, 100, a World War Two veteran from County Tyrone. |
| Ulster Unionist MLA Andy Allen, who lost his legs in a bomb while serving in Afghanistan, is also honoured. | Ulster Unionist MLA Andy Allen, who lost his legs in a bomb while serving in Afghanistan, is also honoured. |
| Former Northern Ireland and Manchester Utd goalkeeper Harry Gregg and former British and Irish Lions captain Willie John McBride both feature on the list for a second time while Northern Ireland and Rangers defender Gareth McAuley is also honoured. | Former Northern Ireland and Manchester Utd goalkeeper Harry Gregg and former British and Irish Lions captain Willie John McBride both feature on the list for a second time while Northern Ireland and Rangers defender Gareth McAuley is also honoured. |
| Ms Smart, from Ballyclare, County Antrim, became the first woman to work as a firefighter in Northern Ireland when she joined the then Northern Ireland Fire Brigade in 1991. | Ms Smart, from Ballyclare, County Antrim, became the first woman to work as a firefighter in Northern Ireland when she joined the then Northern Ireland Fire Brigade in 1991. |
| She retired earlier this year after 27 years service. | She retired earlier this year after 27 years service. |
| Ms Smart has been recognised for her role in advocating a career in the fire and rescue service to women. The Northern Ireland fire service now employs 62 female firefighters. | Ms Smart has been recognised for her role in advocating a career in the fire and rescue service to women. The Northern Ireland fire service now employs 62 female firefighters. |
| She said she was "excited" to receive the honour, but that it was "hard to take in". | She said she was "excited" to receive the honour, but that it was "hard to take in". |
| 'Passionate advocate' | 'Passionate advocate' |
| "I think because I was the first female firefighter that made an impact, it let other people see that they could do the job," she added. | "I think because I was the first female firefighter that made an impact, it let other people see that they could do the job," she added. |
| "If you have the physical ability, if you have the right frame of mind, you can do the job. | "If you have the physical ability, if you have the right frame of mind, you can do the job. |
| "It was really letting other women know that they can do this job too, and I hope I did that." | "It was really letting other women know that they can do this job too, and I hope I did that." |
| Alan Walmsley, interim Chief Fire and Rescue Officer at the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service said Ms Smart "was a passionate advocate and ambassador for female firefighters" and the award was a "fitting recognition". | Alan Walmsley, interim Chief Fire and Rescue Officer at the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service said Ms Smart "was a passionate advocate and ambassador for female firefighters" and the award was a "fitting recognition". |
| Ulster Unionist Andy Allen has become an MBE for services to veterans and their families in Northern Ireland. He is an MLA for East Belfast and a former Royal Irish Regiment soldier. | |
| He was 19 when he had his right leg blown off and left leg badly injured by a makeshift bomb while on patrol in Afghanistan in 2008. | He was 19 when he had his right leg blown off and left leg badly injured by a makeshift bomb while on patrol in Afghanistan in 2008. |
| Mr Allen said he felt "humbled and privileged" that he had been put forward for the honour. | Mr Allen said he felt "humbled and privileged" that he had been put forward for the honour. |
| "I see this honour as being very much in recognition of my colleagues and volunteers at AAVS (Andy Allen Veterans Support)," he said. | "I see this honour as being very much in recognition of my colleagues and volunteers at AAVS (Andy Allen Veterans Support)," he said. |
| "They are the individuals who work very quietly behind the scenes and make things happen, because if it wasn't for them then this honour would not have come to fruition. | "They are the individuals who work very quietly behind the scenes and make things happen, because if it wasn't for them then this honour would not have come to fruition. |
| "My family have also been immense from the day and hour I was injured in Afghanistan, right through to the present day." | "My family have also been immense from the day and hour I was injured in Afghanistan, right through to the present day." |
| Ulster Unionist leader Robin Swann said: "The award of an MBE is further recognition of the selfless work that Andy does on a daily basis for the betterment of others, and it will be the source of great pride amongst Andy's friends and colleagues in the Ulster Unionist Party and far beyond. He truly is an inspiration to us all." | Ulster Unionist leader Robin Swann said: "The award of an MBE is further recognition of the selfless work that Andy does on a daily basis for the betterment of others, and it will be the source of great pride amongst Andy's friends and colleagues in the Ulster Unionist Party and far beyond. He truly is an inspiration to us all." |
| The former head of the Prison Officers Association, Finlay Spratt, has also been appointed MBE for public service and charity. | |
| Children's writer and storyteller Liz Weir has been appointed MBE for services to the arts and education. | |
| Others recognised in the honours list include a number of Northern Ireland sports stars - past and present. | Others recognised in the honours list include a number of Northern Ireland sports stars - past and present. |
| Former Ireland and British Lions captain Willie John McBride is now a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for services to rugby union. | Former Ireland and British Lions captain Willie John McBride is now a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for services to rugby union. |
| Mr McBride, who previously was appointed MBE, played 63 Tests for Ireland including 11 as captain, and toured with the Lions five times finishing with 17 Lions Test caps. | |
| First NI female firefighter receives MBE | First NI female firefighter receives MBE |
| He captained the most successful ever Lions side, which toured South Africa in 1974, and said he was "absolutely thrilled" with the accolade. | He captained the most successful ever Lions side, which toured South Africa in 1974, and said he was "absolutely thrilled" with the accolade. |
| "It is lovely to be remembered after all this time, because I have not been involved with rugby for a long time," he added. | "It is lovely to be remembered after all this time, because I have not been involved with rugby for a long time," he added. |
| "To me, the Everest of my career was captaining the Lions in 1974, when we had that unbeaten run against the Springboks and beat them for the first time ever in a test series. | "To me, the Everest of my career was captaining the Lions in 1974, when we had that unbeaten run against the Springboks and beat them for the first time ever in a test series. |
| "I would like to think this honour would be shared with those guys, because they were absolutely terrific. | "I would like to think this honour would be shared with those guys, because they were absolutely terrific. |
| "Sometimes I felt that I had travelled with 29 brothers." | "Sometimes I felt that I had travelled with 29 brothers." |
| Former Northern Ireland and Manchester United goalkeeper Harry Gregg was appointed OBE, adding to the MBE he was appointed in 1995. | |
| Mr Gregg survived the 1958 Munich air disaster and was praised for staying with the burning plane to help passengers to safety. | Mr Gregg survived the 1958 Munich air disaster and was praised for staying with the burning plane to help passengers to safety. |
| He made more than 240 appearances for Manchester United during his career. | He made more than 240 appearances for Manchester United during his career. |
| Northern Ireland and Rangers defender Gareth McAuley has become an MBE for services to football in Northern Ireland, while Crusaders FC manager Stephen Baxter received a British Empire Medal (BEM). | |
| Former Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) president, Andy Crawford, was also appointed MBE. | |
| Nicholas David George Coburn | Nicholas David George Coburn |
| Bryan Keating | Bryan Keating |
| David Noel Livingstone | David Noel Livingstone |
| William James McBride | William James McBride |
| John Christopher McCrudden | John Christopher McCrudden |
| Edward Mark McGuckin | Edward Mark McGuckin |
| Malcolm Howard Beatty | Malcolm Howard Beatty |
| Patrick Joseph Doherty | Patrick Joseph Doherty |
| Carol Ann Graham | Carol Ann Graham |
| Henry Gregg | Henry Gregg |
| Charles John Henning | Charles John Henning |
| Deirdre Houston | Deirdre Houston |
| Brian Ingram | Brian Ingram |
| Alma Mary Loughrey | Alma Mary Loughrey |
| Adrian McAllister | Adrian McAllister |
| James Charles McElnay | James Charles McElnay |
| Marie Roulston | Marie Roulston |
| Peter Newton Acheson | Peter Newton Acheson |
| Andrew Joseph David Allen | Andrew Joseph David Allen |
| Maureen Allen | Maureen Allen |
| Declan George Billington | Declan George Billington |
| Zoe Alexandra Boreland | Zoe Alexandra Boreland |
| Alan Boyd | Alan Boyd |
| Sarah Roberta Brownlee | Sarah Roberta Brownlee |
| Melanie Elaine Christie-Boyle | Melanie Elaine Christie-Boyle |
| William Harold Connor | William Harold Connor |
| Celine Collette Craig | Celine Collette Craig |
| Derek Andrew Crawford | Derek Andrew Crawford |
| Henry James Crawford | Henry James Crawford |
| Patricia Louise Donald | Patricia Louise Donald |
| Thomas Watters Perry Donaldson | Thomas Watters Perry Donaldson |
| William Nigel Dougherty | William Nigel Dougherty |
| Colin Harding | Colin Harding |
| Frances Hardy | Frances Hardy |
| Hugh Mervyn Herron | Hugh Mervyn Herron |
| Rosemary Frances Leech | Rosemary Frances Leech |
| Jacqueline Locke (Gorman) | Jacqueline Locke (Gorman) |
| Thomas Ernest Long | Thomas Ernest Long |
| Christopher John Lynn | Christopher John Lynn |
| Gareth Gerald McAuley | Gareth Gerald McAuley |
| Imelda Mary McGucken | Imelda Mary McGucken |
| Neil Edward McKittrick | Neil Edward McKittrick |
| Pairic O'Brien | Pairic O'Brien |
| Claire Louise O'Hanlon | Claire Louise O'Hanlon |
| Wilfred Pyper | Wilfred Pyper |
| Mary Roulston | Mary Roulston |
| Sheila Elizabeth Simons (Boden) | Sheila Elizabeth Simons (Boden) |
| Gerard Skelton | Gerard Skelton |
| Heather Carolyn Smart | Heather Carolyn Smart |
| Finlay Spratt | Finlay Spratt |
| Elizabeth Ann weir | Elizabeth Ann weir |
| Jacqueline Weir | Jacqueline Weir |
| James Anderson | James Anderson |
| Stephen John Baxter | Stephen John Baxter |
| Eithne Marian Begley | Eithne Marian Begley |
| Evelyn Elizabeth Bennett | Evelyn Elizabeth Bennett |
| Margaret Wilson Brown | Margaret Wilson Brown |
| Anthony Richard Clarke | Anthony Richard Clarke |
| Thomas Martin Dillon | Thomas Martin Dillon |
| Elizabeth Eileen Doherty | Elizabeth Eileen Doherty |
| Robert Norman Espie | Robert Norman Espie |
| John Stuart Faulkner | John Stuart Faulkner |
| James Ferguson | James Ferguson |
| Elizabeth Fielding | Elizabeth Fielding |
| Daniel Joseph Gallagher | Daniel Joseph Gallagher |
| Elizabeth Jane Glass | Elizabeth Jane Glass |
| James Lowry Grant | James Lowry Grant |
| Desmond John Gregg | Desmond John Gregg |
| David Henry Hammerton | David Henry Hammerton |
| Jemima (Ina) Henry | Jemima (Ina) Henry |
| Muriel Irwin | Muriel Irwin |
| Hugh Kennedy | Hugh Kennedy |
| David Edward Knox | David Edward Knox |
| Robert Leonard Lingwood | Robert Leonard Lingwood |
| George Henry McAlpin | George Henry McAlpin |
| Jane Alison McAlpin | Jane Alison McAlpin |
| Anne Marie McComb | Anne Marie McComb |
| Glenda Rodgers McCormick | Glenda Rodgers McCormick |
| Joseph Gabriel McCurry | Joseph Gabriel McCurry |
| William Joseph McKelvey | William Joseph McKelvey |
| William Frederick Francis Mills | William Frederick Francis Mills |
| Colin Andrew Moffett | Colin Andrew Moffett |
| Sharon Patterson | Sharon Patterson |
| Leonard Francis Quigg | Leonard Francis Quigg |
| Gretta Reid | Gretta Reid |
| Joanne Elizabeth Rock | Joanne Elizabeth Rock |
| Ernest Carson Smyth | Ernest Carson Smyth |
| Gwen Katherine Smyth | Gwen Katherine Smyth |
| Sarah Renee Starbuck | Sarah Renee Starbuck |
| Eveline Margaret Strange | Eveline Margaret Strange |
| Teresa White | Teresa White |
| Peter Wilson | Peter Wilson |
| Ross Logan Hayes Wilson | Ross Logan Hayes Wilson |
| Det Insp Billy Cross | Det Insp Billy Cross |
| Det Const Kimberly Hegarty | Det Const Kimberly Hegarty |
| Supt Brian Thomas Kee | Supt Brian Thomas Kee |