The controversial former governor of Northern Ireland's top security prison, the Maze, Mr Martin Mogg, has been awarded a CBE (Commander of the British Empire) in the Queen's Birthday Honours List.
Mr Mogg, currently governor of Maghaberry Prison near Lisburn, Co Antrim, was in charge of the Maze when the leader of the Loyalist Volunteer Force, Mr Billy Wright, was shot dead in a courtyard of the jail by INLA inmates just after Christmas 1997.
In a TV programme, Mr Mogg admitted he had been "naive" to house LVF and INLA prisoners in the same H-block. Local politicians demanded his resignation at the time. While he was in charge of the Maze between October 1997 and September 1998, Mr Mogg was also embarrassed by the escape of an IRA inmate, Mr Liam Averill, who dressed as a woman and escaped during a Christmas party. The head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service, Mr John Semple, has been knighted in the honours list.
Sir John, who has also been secretary to the power-sharing Executive and responsible for the Office of the First and Deputy First Ministers since devolution, is due to retire in August.
The British ambassador to Dublin, Mr Ivor Anthony Roberts, has been awarded the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG).
One of Northern Ireland's most famous sportswomen, Ms Mary Peters, is being made a Dame for her services to sport and the community as is Ms Geraldine Keegan for services to secondary education.
Mr Derek Bell of the Chieftains has received an MBE (Member of the British Empire) for his services to traditional music. Others honoured are Mr George Fleming, a senior mortuary technician at the Tyrone County Hospital who had to deal with the bodies of the 29 people killed in the Omagh bombing, and Mr Sean O'Dwyer, chairman of the Omagh Fund. Mr Fleming has received an MBE and Mr O'Dwyer a CBE.
The managing director of UTV, Mr Desmond Smyth, and the founder of the pharmaceutical company Galen, Mr Allen McClay, have been awarded CBEs. Five RUC officers, among them the deputy Assistant Chief Constable, Chief Supt Hugh Wallace, received MBEs while three other officers have been awarded the Queen's Police Medal.