Foreigners honoured for North peace roles

TWO members of the body that oversaw the completion of IRA disarmament have been awarded honorary CBEs.

Finland’s Brigadier General Tauno Nieminen and American civil servant

Andrew Sens, who worked alongside Canada’s General John de Chastelain, were honoured for their services to the peace process in Northern Ireland.

Aaro Suonio, also of Finland and chef de cabinet of the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning, was also awarded an honorary MBE for services to the process.

The honours were welcomed by Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain, who said it was a fitting recognition of their contributions.

“Northern Ireland today is a very different place than it was when the commission started its work,” he said.

“The fact that it has changed so much is down, in no small part, to the remarkable contribution made by the commission to the securing of lasting peace.

“Through their integrity, diligence and commitment to peace, they have helped to deliver what many thought would never be delivered — the decommissioning of IRA weapons.”