Former Bank of Ireland governor Laurence Crowley has been awarded an honorary CBE by Britain’s Queen Elizabeth.

Mr Crowley, who is also the founding chairman of the UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate School of Business, was honoured for his contribution to North-South relations.

British ambassador David Reddaway said: “Laurence Crowley has been a tireless bridge builder between communities North and South over many years. By bringing together business people and politicians from both sides of the Border through the North South Round Table Group, which he co-founded, he has helped transform the relationship between Ireland and Northern Ireland.

“His commitment to community development projects in some of Northern Ireland’s most disadvantaged areas has played an important role in reducing tensions . . .”