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Dublin: 5 °C Friday 24 May, 2013

New Assistant Commissioners named as Gardaí promotions allowed

Gerard Philips and Dónall Ó Cualáin were both promoted from the rank of Chief Superintendent to Assistant Commissioner in yesterday’s reshuffle.

Image: Eamonn Farrell/Photocall Ireland

FOLLOWING THE GOVERNMENT’S approval of a number of new senior Garda appointments yesterday, chief superintendents Gerard Phillips and Dónall Ó Cualáin have both been promoted to the position of Assistant Commissioner.

The new roles will be based in the eastern and southern regions.

Philips, who has been working out of Ballymun, was recently involved in a High Court battle with a shooting enthusiast who he refused to grant a gun licence to. The legal challenge was eventually settled.

Ó Cualáin has been central to the Garda crackdown on drug-related crime in Galway city. He has been in charge of policing all Garda divisions in the county.

Minister for Justice Alan Shatter approved the appointment of the two Assistant Commissioners, as well as eight Chief Superintendents and 23 Superintendents after a cabinet meeting yesterday.

The eight chief superintendents have been named as:

  • Chief Superintendent Francis Clerkin – D.M.R. Northern Division
  • Chief Superintendent Orla McPartlin – Internal Affairs
  • Chief Superintendent Jeremiah O’Sullivan – DMR Eastern Division
  • Chief Superintendent Michael O’Sullivan – Galway Division
  • Chief Superintendent William Dillane – Cork North Division
  • Chief Superintendent Patrick Clavin – Change Management
  • Chief Superintendent Mark Curran – Westmeath Division
  • Chief Superintendent Michael Clancy – Sligo Division

The 23 new superintendents are:

  • Superintendent Joseph Prendergast – Kildare District
  • Superintendent John J. Keane – Castlebar District
  • Superintendent Gerard Russell – Carrickmacross District
  • Superintendent Alan Cunningham – Bruff District
  • Superintendent William Carolan – Enniscorthy District
  • Superintendent James Ryan – Castlerea District
  • Detective Superintendent Andrew Watters – Liaison & Protection
  • Detective Superintendent Stephen Courage – Garda National Drugs Unit
  • Superintendent Mary Delmar – Communications Centre
  • Superintendent Colm Fox – Swinford District
  • Superintendent George Kyne – Blessington District
  • Detective Superintendent John O’Reilly – Monaghan
  • Superintendent Finbarr Murphy – Tramore District
  • Detective Superintendent John Nolan – Technical Bureau
  • Superintendent Derek Smart – Clonakilty District
  • Superintendent Patrick Conlon – Wexford District
  • Superintendent Aiden Foley – Westport District
  • Superintendent Paul Hogan – Wicklow District
  • Superintendent Michael Leacy – Dungarvan District
  • Superintendent Patrick L. McGinn – Ballyshannon District
  • Superintendent Sean Farrell – Ballyconnell District
  • Superintendent Michael Fitzpatrick – Listowel District
  • Superintendent Declan Goode – DMR Traffic

Shatter has advised that the force’s numbers will be 13,511 by the end of this month. Despite the reduction in personnel, he said that the new appointments “reflect the commitment of the government to maintain the supervisory and management ranks…at the highest level possible.”

Minster for Public Expenditure and Reform Brendan Howlin has also sanctioned the appointment of replacements at the sergeant and inspector levels by the Garda Commissioner.

However there remains at least another 28 vacant posts across the top ranks of An Garda Síochána.

More: Government approves appointment of 33 senior gardaí>

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Comments (5 Comments)

  • Red Ed 09/02/12 #

    where are they getting 13,511 I bet they are counting the 2,000+ reserve gardai that work 4hrs a week for free. Stop taking the piss Shatter!

    Reply
  • Silent P 09/02/12 #

    Agreed Keith, however if there are no senior officers to fulfill the roles I’ve mentioned what’s the point in a Garda making an arrest in the first place if he/she can’t investigate a matter properly. It’s two sides of the same coin. They really need to re-open Templemore now and get fresh blood into the system. It takes two years to train a Garda I believe.

    Reply
  • whats this going to change, more yes men buried up the backside of the government getting handy numbers. More bobbys on the beat are needed god the cops are following the HSE with top heavy management and no feet on the street.

    Reply
    • I would agree more guards on the beat are needed but these promotions are essential as chief supers and superintendents are required to perform certain functions under legislation such as extending periods of detention, authorising fingerprinting and issuing certain search warrants.

      Reply
    • But if they fill all the vacancies from sergeant upwards there will be very few gardai to request those detentions in the first place.

      Reply

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