Freedom of Dublin city award for boxer Kellie Harrington

Olympic gold medal-winning boxer Kellie Harrington, feminist campaigner Ailbhe Smyth and psychologist Mary Aiken are to be awarded the Freedom of the City of Dublin.

Lord Mayor Alison Gilliland said she chose the trio for the honour as all had shown resilience and an ability to "defend the city from attack" in their own spheres.

“I am honoured and privileged to propose these three women for Dublin city’s highest award, the Honorary Freedom of the City of Dublin,” said Ms Gilliland.

Harrington is the first boxer to receive the honour, but she follows several other sports figures including Dublin GAA football manager Jim Gavin. Others include cyclist Stephen Roche, Rugby player Brian O'Driscoll, soccer stars Jack Charlton, Johnny Giles and Olympic Gold medallist, runner Ronnie Delaney.

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‘Importance of kindness’

Harrington is, said Ms Gilliland, an “inspiring ambassador and role model” and an example to us all of the “importance of kindness towards others”.

Ms Smyth, founding director of the Women's Education, Resource and Research Centre at University College Dublin, was a co-director of the Together for Yes national referendum campaign on abortion and spokeswoman and convener for the Coalition to Repeal the Eighth Amendment. She was also a founding member of Marriage Equality, convenor of Feminist Open Forum, an organiser for Action for Choice and a board member of Equality and Rights Alliance.

Dr Aiken is a cyberpsychologist and academic adviser to Europol’s European Cybercrime Centre. She is also an associate professor in the Department of Law and Criminology at the University of East London.

She was dedicated to ensuring a “safer and more secure online environment” said Ms Gilliland.