Freeman Harris move opposed

A FORMER Mayor of Limerick yesterday claimed his efforts to make actor Richard Harris a freeman of Limerick were strongly opposed by two members of the city council.

Ald Pat Kennedy confirmed he made every effort to have the highest honour the city can bestow on the richly talented actor during his mayoralty in 1985/86.

The Harris family and the general public in the city are annoyed that 72-year-old Richard Harris, the city’s most famous son and one of the great international actors of his generation, was not officially honoured by his native city before he died.

Over 300 people of all walks of life have signed a book of condolence opened in Griffin’s Funeral Home in his memory. A memorial service will be held in the city in the next fortnight.

Ald Kennedy said his proposal to confer the Freedom of Limerick on the Irish screen legend was strongly opposed by two councillors and a “few more were lukewarm on the idea”.

He said that in the circumstances he had to abandon the idea because the conferring of the freedom required the unanimous approval of the council.

“This was all the more regrettable because it was intimated to me at the time that Richard Harris would have been delighted to receive the Freedom of Limerick,’’ he added.

Ironically as a result of the problems in giving Mr Harris the freedom award, the city council changed its rule and now only 12 out of 17 councillors need approve a name put forward.

The Freedom of the City has been conferred on world leaders Pope John Paul II and two former presidents of the US, John F Kennedy and Bill Clinton. A spokesperson for Limerick City Council said the freedom of the city has never been conferred posthumously.

A life-long friend of Richard Harris, Cllr Jack Bourke said he regretted that Richard did not live to get the Freedom of Limerick which he richly deserved.

“I will be advocating that as part of the proposed pedestrianisation of O’Connell Street a bronze statute of Richard Harris be erected.