Galway Bay fm newsroom - A former UN official who received a medal from a society at NUIG has handed back the medal in protest at former Taoiseach Enda Kenny receiving an honorary degree from NUI this week.
Denis Halliday resigned his post in the U.N in 1998 over the impact of sanctions on the people of Iraq.
He has now handed back a president's medal he received from the Literary & Debating Society at NUIG.
Enda Kenny was awarded a doctorate of laws by NUI at a ceremony in NUI Galway earlier this week.
NUIG says the awarding of the honorary degree by NUI is in line with its tradition of honouring those who have held the office of Taoiseach.
Former Taoiseach Brian Cowen was conferred by NUI last July.
Denis Halliday claims that Enda Kenny failed to respond to the concerns of many Irish people who believe in Irish neutrality.
According to today's Irish Times, the Literary and Debating Society at NUIG says it respects Denis Halliday's decision to return the medal.
