The Christopher Ewart-Biggs Memorial Prize has been awarded to the historian Peter Hart for his book about the War of Independence, writes Gerry Moriarty. The £5,000 prize was presented at Belfast City Hall last night by the former British governor of Hong Kong and current chairman of the Policing Commission, Mr Chris Patten. This was the 15th Ewart-Biggs prize to be awarded. The prize was instituted in memory of the British ambassador to Ireland, Christopher Ewart-Biggs, who was murdered by the IRA in 1976.
Mr Hart was unable to attend the ceremony. The prize was accepted on his behalf by Ms Robin Whitaker. The objectives of the prize are to promote and encourage peace and reconciliation in Ireland, a greater understanding between the peoples of Britain and Ireland, and closer co-operation between EU member-states.