THE funeral of a west Belfast man who was the first chairman of the Royal Ulster Constabulary George Cross Foundation, will take place tomorrow.
James McDonald, who was 81, died on Tuesday at his Belfast home.
Born and raised on the Falls Road, Mr McDonald was a Catholic Unionist who had been bestowed a number of accolades during his lifetime.
The father-of-two was largely recognised for his work in the voluntary service with both the Prince's Trust and the Prince's Youth Business Trust.
In 1990, he was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre for his charity work in the Holy Land. He was later promoted to Knight Grand Cross of the same Order.
He was also a Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order, which is awarded for distinguished personal service to the Sovereign, and a Knight Commander of the Order of St Gregory the Great, awarded by Pope John Paul II for charity work in Ireland.
A qualified accountant, had also worked for the Labour Relations Agency and at one time was an independent assessor of military complaints.
Shortly after he stepped down as Chairman of the Royal Ulster Constabulary George Cross Foundation in October 2013 - a role he had held for 11 years - Mr McDonald suffered a heart attack.
After spending seven weeks in hospital following a quadruple bypass, he made a full recovery.
Mr McDonald lost two of his brothers during the Troubles,
Sean and Ronald, who owned a Belfast garage, were murdered along with their 16-year-old apprentice, Tony McGrady, by the UVF in 1973.
Requiem Mass for Mr McDonald will take place tomorrow at 12 noon at St Brigid's Church, Derryvolgie Avenue followed by a service at Roselawn Crematorium at 2pm.
