Peter has been recognised for his outstanding leadership and contribution to peacebuilding in Northern Ireland.

Peter Sheridan has been Chief Executive of the peace building charity Co-operation Ireland since 2008.

Established in 1979, Co-operation Ireland is an all-island peace-building organisation, working to build a shared and cohesive society by addressing legacy issues of the conflict and facilitating contact and collaboration between people from different backgrounds both within and between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.   

Funded by The Executive Office, the Communities in Transition Project (CIT) is a collaboration between Co-operation Ireland and the Senator George J. Mitchell Institute for Global Peace, Security and Justice at Queen’s University Belfast which aims to build community resilience in eight areas where there is a history of paramilitary activity, criminality and coercive control. The primary objective is to support the transition of these sites to a point where paramilitary groups no longer exercise influence, by building capacity and empowering communities through a range of initiatives including Area Regeneration; Capacity Building; Community Safety and Policing; Environment and Culture; Health and Wellbeing; Personal Transition; Restorative Practice; and Young People.

Under Peter’s leadership, Co-operation Ireland enabled the first state visit of Queen Elizabeth to the Republic of Ireland in 2011 and the reciprocal visit of the President of Ireland to the United Kingdom.

In 2012, the organisation helped facilitate the historic handshake between the Queen and then deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland, Martin McGuinness.

From 1976 to 2008 Peter was a police officer in Northern Ireland. Before retiring, he had responsibility for murder and organised crime investigations.

Commenting on the Honour, Prof Richard English, Institute Director said:

'I'm delighted to see Peter Sheridan honoured in this way. His commitment to peacebuilding has been longstanding, decisive and deeply impressive. Many congratulations to him on this richly deserved honour.'