Row over Limerick freedom honour for President

Hopes of making President Michael D Higgins a Freeman of Limerick City were plunged into further controversy yesterday.

A row between Labour and Fine Gael blocked a proposal in 2013 to bestow the honour on the Limerick-born head of state.

But in another twist to the saga, a decision last Friday by the new Limerick City and County Council to make President Higgins a freeman was deemed illegal by a former city mayor.