Ciaran Keaveny and Paul Heffernan, two pupils from St Benildus College, in Stillorgan, Co Dublin had a "lunch date" with the RUC Chief Constable, Sir Ronnie Flanagan, at RUC Headquarters in Belfast yesterday.
The pupils had interviewed the Chief Constable for their school magazine, Pue's Occurrences, last year, and said they were so impressed with Sir Ronnie they decided to award him the title of "gentleman". They also collected £200 for the RUC Benevolent Fund which they handed to the Chief Constable during yesterday's lunch.
The pupils said their gesture was inspired by the President, Ms McAleese's motto, "Building Bridges".
"We, too, felt we wanted to extend the hand of friendship," they added.