RCSI this evening granted its highest award of Honorary Fellowship to Former Deputy Leader of the SDLP and Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland (1999-2001) Seamus Mallon.

Since 1990, 17 honorary fellowships have been conferred on lay people by the RCSI, five of whom had a political background. These include Uachtarán na hEireann Mary McAleese, Mary Robinson, Dr Garrett Fitzgerald, Nelson Mandela and Senator George Mitchell. The name of Seamus Mallon will now be added to that group.

Giving the citation for Seamus Mallon, Council member of the college Frank McManus said: “When Mr Mallon retired from politics the Irish Times wrote, 'Seamus Mallon has always been there even in the darkest of dark days never losing faith in the primacy of politics even when he had little reason to sustain that faith. Insisting on straight-talking when such was far from popular'.

"Throughout his political life Seamus Mallon has been recognised by everybody in the political process as a man of the highest integrity and this integrity has been underlined on his part by a total rejection of violence as a means to a political end."

Mr Mallon received his honour at the annual Millin Meeting where he delivered the 19th Carmichael lecture entitled 'A Road Less Travelled'.