Paddy Devlin must be the first man interned for IRA activities to receive a CBE, as he did in the British New Year's honours list. Devlin asked the British to omit his name from the official list, but he broke cover this week and told the Irish News he was pleased to accept the honour for his contribution to trade unionism. Nationalists have traditionally turned down honours from the British monarch, but Devlin said he was given the award as a socialist and not a nationalist.
Other nationalists were offered a gong but refused. Their names are a closely guarded secret. Sean Farren of the SDLP told Quidnunc categorically he had not been approached. Tom Collins, editor of the Irish News, said Ulster Unionist Party leader, David Trimble, had been made a Privy Councillor in the last honours list and a gesture to the nationalist community could be expected. Names mentioned include Mark Durkan, Brid Rogers and Alban McGuinness, but they have declined to comment. John Hume, the SDLP leader, told RTE's Joe Duffy this week he regretted agreeing to a Liveline interview when he was pressed on this clearly sensitive issue.