Families connected to Armagh are among the recipients of a national honour for public servants who lost their lives as a result of their duty during the Troubles.
The Elizabeth Emblem Award has been presented to the families of three police officers linked to County Armagh: RUC Constable Mervyn Robinson, prison officer Patrick Thomas Kerr and former RUC Reserve Constable Samuel Cyril Stewart.
The awards were announced on 4 September 2026. Established in 2024, the Elizabeth Emblem is described as the civilian equivalent of the Elizabeth Cross, which recognises members of the UK Armed Forces who died in action or as a result of a terrorist attack.
The three Armagh-linked recipients
Constable Mervyn Robinson was 42 when he was shot by the IRA in 1981. He was sitting in his car outside the Wayside Inn public house in Whitecross and was off duty at the time. His family is among those accepting an Emblem in 2026.
Patrick Thomas Kerr, a prison officer, was shot dead by the IRA while leaving St Patrick’s Cathedral in Armagh with his two youngest children.
Samuel Cyril Stewart, a former RUC Reserve Constable, was shot dead by the INLA in 1998. Two gunmen ambushed him in a car park beside a supermarket on Dublin Street, Armagh, while he was with his wife.
Recognition for families across the UK
A total of 67 Elizabeth Emblems have been awarded across the UK. Thirty-nine of the recipients were police officers based in Northern Ireland. Other recipients include murdered MPs Jo Cox and David Amess.
The award is intended to recognise the lasting sacrifice made by families. Prime Minister Andy Burnham said: “Behind every one of these 67 names is a family who got the worst news and have carried it every day since.” He said the Emblem recorded that the families’ contribution was recognised and would not be forgotten.
Secretary of State Sir Chris Bryant said the awards honoured 39 public servants whose courage and sacrifice helped protect communities across Northern Ireland. He said they had served during some of the darkest days of the Troubles and throughout their careers in public service.
The Emblem features a rosemary wreath, a symbol of remembrance, around the Tudor Crown adopted by King Charles when he became king. It carries the inscription “For A Life Given in Service”, with the recipient’s name on the reverse.
Members of the public can nominate someone for an Elizabeth Emblem by submitting an application on behalf of a public servant who lost their life while carrying out public service.