Senior Garda promotions announced

GARDA Commissioner Fachtna Murphy has announced a series of appointments at senior Garda management level.

AC O’Mahony was formerly chief superintendent in charge of the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB). He has been appointed to AC in charge of the Garda Western Region.

AC Kenny was formerly chief superintendent in charge of the Sligo division. He has been appointed to AC Northern Region.

Both men were promoted on Wednesday following a Cabinet decision to fill vacancies caused by retirements.

In a reshuffle of existing ACs, Mick Feehan moves from the Northern Region to Dublin, Kevin Ludlow shifts to the South East Region from the Southern Region and Willie Keane moves from the Western Region to the Southern Region.

Chief Superintendent Pat Byrne is moving from Security and Intelligence to head up the CAB. The new head of Security and Intelligence is Chief Superintendent Kevin Donohoe.

Detective Superintendent Denis O’Leary moves from the Garda National Drug Unit (GNDU) to become the second-in-command in the CAB, following the early retirement there of Det Supt John McDermott.

It is not yet clear if and when Det Supt O’Leary’s position in the GNDU will be filled.

The promotion of two ACs were exemptions from the moratorium on promotions within the public service. The Garda is being hit by a growing number of experienced officers taking voluntary retirement, with 579 leaving to date, compared with 243 in 2008.