Councillors on both sides of the sectarian divide in Northern Ireland last night unanimously awarded soccer legend George Best the freedom of Castlereagh.
The motion, proposed by SDLP Councillor Rosaleen Hughes and seconded by Mr Peter Robinson MLA, of the DUP, received cross-party support at a Castlereagh council meeting. Speaking before the vote, Cork-born Cllr Hughes said she had been surprised to learn that the former Manchester United striker had never been put forward to receive the honour. While Best recently bought a house in Portaferry, Co Down, he was reared in a housing estate in Cregagh in the borough of Castlereagh, where his father still lives.
"A few weeks ago I asked Peter Robinson why Georgie Best had never been given the freedom of the borough and he said `that's a good question' . . . It was great to have his support," she said.
Mr Robinson's wife Iris, Mayor of Castlereagh and former Cregagh resident, also spoke in favour of the motion. "I grew up with George in Cregagh and he has never forgotten where he came from," she said.
The motion applauded Best's sporting achievements and personal courage, describing him as a "favoured son of Castlereagh". It also referred to his much-publicised battle with alcohol addiction. "George Best's efforts to understand, accept and deal with his personal difficulties has been admirable . . . he is a match for adversity in all its forms," the motion read.
Cllr Hughes said that he was a good example to others. "Anyone who has that terrible illness can look at him and think, well if he can do it, so can I . . ., he is coping very well and he is a great ambassador for Northern Ireland," she said.
Best is not the only Northern Ireland sporting hero being put forward for official honours at present. Fans of the late motor cycling champion, Joey Dunlop, have been campaigning to have him posthumously knighted.
Mother-of-three and racing enthusiast Ms Ann Anderson, from Banbridge, Co Down, has collected around 7,000 signatures since she wrote to Queen Elizabeth last October asking that the honour be bestowed on the Co Antrim sports star. Some 50,000 mourners from around the world attended the funeral of the 26-time TT winner after he died during a road race in Estonia last July.
"The letter was passed on to Downing Street and they have said I have to collect a verifiable list of people who want to see Joey knighted for his amazing contribution to motorsports and his charity work," she said yesterday.
Ms Anderson is hoping to collect 15,000 signatures for her campaign despite the fact that such honours are not normally awarded posthumously.