Robinson awarded highest civilian honour in US

Former President Mary Robinson has been awarded the highest civilian honour in the United States - the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Announcing the award at the White House yesterday, President Barack Obama praised Mrs Robinson's role as Ireland's first female president and her tenure as United Nations Human Rights Commissioner.

Mrs Robinson said she was both humbled and honoured by the award.

Other recipients of this year's Medal of Freedom include Senator Edward Kennedy, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, physicist Stephen Hawking and actor Sidney Poitier.

The medal is also being awarded posthumously to former Republican senator Jack Kemp and to Harvey Milk, the openly gay San Francisco politician who was assassinated in 1978.