AMERICAN GEORGE IS IRISH PERSON OF YEAR
American George is Irish person of year
GEORGE Mitchell, the American who guided the Ulster peace process to its Good Friday accord, last night became the first foreigner to win an Irish Person of the Year award.
He received the prize from Eire Prime Minister Bertie Ahern in a transatlantic satellite link between Dublin and Washington.
Mr Mitchell, who was closely associated with the search for peace in Ulster for nearly four years ahead of the Easter deal, chaired the marathon negotiations between the British and Eire Governments and political parties that ultimately led to agreement.
Before that he headed the international body which attempted to find a way out of the terrorist arms decommissioning issue still blocking advances in the peace process. Mr Mitchell received the award for "his skill and tenacity as broker of the Good Friday agreement and selfless dedication to the cause of peace in Ireland," according to a citation from the judges.
A second Ulster-linked award honour went to Dominic Pinto, the consultant surgeon who activated an emergency plan at Tyrone County Hospital in Omagh after the mass murder bomb attack in the town in August.
The main Irish Person of the Year award was won by Sophia MeColgan 28, from Sligo, who went to court without the cloak of anonymity to tell of years of sexual abuse she and her brothers and sisters suffered from her father.
GEORGE Mitchell, the American who guided the Ulster peace process to its Good Friday accord, last night became the first foreigner to win an Irish Person of the Year award.
He received the prize from Eire Prime Minister Bertie Ahern in a transatlantic satellite link between Dublin and Washington.
Mr Mitchell, who was closely associated with the search for peace in Ulster for nearly four years ahead of the Easter deal, chaired the marathon negotiations between the British and Eire Governments and political parties that ultimately led to agreement.
Before that he headed the international body which attempted to find a way out of the terrorist arms decommissioning issue still blocking advances in the peace process. Mr Mitchell received the award for "his skill and tenacity as broker of the Good Friday agreement and selfless dedication to the cause of peace in Ireland," according to a citation from the judges.
A second Ulster-linked award honour went to Dominic Pinto, the consultant surgeon who activated an emergency plan at Tyrone County Hospital in Omagh after the mass murder bomb attack in the town in August.
The main Irish Person of the Year award was won by Sophia MeColgan 28, from Sligo, who went to court without the cloak of anonymity to tell of years of sexual abuse she and her brothers and sisters suffered from her father.
Further Information
Publisher: NEWS LETTER
Ref: NL/364
Published Date: 10-Nov-98
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