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Belfast Live
Belfast Live
National
James Martin McCarthy

Dáithí Mac Gabhann becomes youngest ever recipient of highest Belfast honour

Six-year-old Dáithí Mac Gabhann has been awarded the Freedom of The City from Belfast City Council.

The West Belfast boy has become the youngest ever recipient of the honour and joins a list which includes Van Morrison, Dame Mary Peters, St Kenneth Branagh and President Bill Clinton.

Receiving the Freedom of the City is the highest civic honour that can be awarded to an individual or organisation.

Read more: James Nesbitt pays tribute to Dáithí Mac Gabhann at Victory Dance for new organ donation law

The honour is awarded by councillors on behalf of the city in recognition of immense pride or of expressing gratitude for exemplary service.

To date, 58 men, 17 women and 10 organisations have been bestowed with the honour.

It is thought the tradition dates back to the early thirteenth century and while in earlier times there were many privileges and benefits connected to the title, despite popular myth, being a Freeman of the City of Belfast does not allow the recipient to graze sheep on the lawns of City Hall.

Dáithí Mac Gabhann alongside his parents Máirtín and Seph have been longterm campaigners for a change in Northern Ireland's organ donation laws.

The six-year-old boy, who is awaiting a heart transplant, has been the face of a campaign which has united politicians from across the political divide.

The organ donation bill which was passed by Westminster last month and will be known as Dáithí's Law, will come into law in June and it is expected that an official ceremony to mark Dáithí being awarded the Freedom of the City could be held to coincide with that.

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