Sergeant retires from gardaí to drive Noonan’s finance rescue mission

A MAN who knows Finance Minister Michael Noonan better than most is set to join the ministerial team and over coming years will be closer to the minister than any adviser or civil servant.

Sgt Gerry Rigney was Mr Noonan’s garda driver when he was minister for health between 1995 and 1997.

Later this week he retires to take up a position as Mr Noonan’s civilian driver under the new arrangements whereby state cars are not provided and driven by the gardaí for most members of the Government.

Sgt Rigney, a native of Westmeath, has been garda in charge of the courts in Limerick for the past nine years.

He said: “I have known Michael for many years and when I lived near his home in Gouldavoher his children used to babysit for us. Michael’s wife Flor taught my three children at St Paul’s primary school in Dooradoyle.

“When I was his driver when he was minister for health we got on very well. When you are in a car for hours at a time with somebody you must know when to talk and when not to. Most of the time when I was driving him previously he was either working on files or on the phone.

“But we would have good ‘auld banter talking about sport and issues of the day. We’d have a good laugh from time to time on the road. When he became a minister in the 1990s he asked for me to be assigned as his garda driver and I had to do a VIP driver and intensive driving course at Templemore.”

Gerry, 55, said Mr Noonan approached him after being appointed Minister for Finance and asked if he would be interested in becoming one of his two civilian drivers. He said: “I felt after 36 years I had given good service to the force and the state and I am looking forward to going back as Michael’s driver in the coming weeks.”

Gerry said he had one golden rule when Mr Noonan’s garda driver previously and which he will adhere to in his new role.

“Confidentiality is essential. A Minister for Finance has to do very important and sensitive work and a lot of that will be done when he is travelling by car.

“I have total respect for him and I have found him a man of great integrity and intelligence and the best politician I have ever come across. A true gentleman,

“Working in this new important role for me is a great honour.”

Before he hits the road with Mr Noonan, the new ministerial driver will have one other important journey to complete.

“I am taking part in the Limerick half marathon on May 1 to raise money for St Gabriels School in Dooradoyle,” he said.

Sgt Rigney’s wife Marie teaches at Southill junior school.