In 1997 he was made an honorary Officer of the Order of the British Empire.He was promoted to honorary Knight in the Queen's Birthday Honours List 2005. He later obtained dual citizenship (of the UK as well as his native Ireland) so he became a substantive Kinght Commander of Order of the British Empire from 11 October 2005. He received the accolade from the Queen at Buckingham Palace on 6 December 2005.