Cork-born garda appointed assistant commissioner

A CORK-born garda who has been involved in several high-profile investigations, including the raid on the Northern Bank, has been appointed to the rank of assistant commissioner.

Tony Quilter, who is currently serving as a detective chief superintendent in Dublin, was born in Charleville and is the son of the late Sergeant Matt Quilter, who served in several stations in Cork city and county prior to his death.

Tony Quilter entered the garda force in 1982 and his first posting was to Pearse Street, Dublin.

He was transferred to Cork the following year and in 1991 was appointed detective sergeant at the city’s then garda headquarters in Union Quay.

After a brief spell serving in Tipperary he returned to Cork where in 1993 he set up the city’s Crime Taskforce, which mainly battled drugs barons.

In 1997 he was promoted to inspector and posted to Mayfield, but the following year became a detective inspector and was posted back to Anglesea Street garda station where he again took up the fight against organised crime.

A further promotion to superintendent followed in 2001 when he took charge of Macroom. Within a year he was back as detective superintendent in Anglesea Street.

In 2007 he became a detective chief superintendent in Dublin.

He was heavily involved in the investigation into the £26.5million Northern Bank robbery in December 2004.

The following February gardaí arrested seven people and recovered over £2m in cash, including £60,000 in Northern Bank notes following raids in the Cork and Dublin areas. He was also heavily involved in the largest ever drug haul recorded in Ireland.

Detective superintendent Quilter’s brother, John, is currently serving as a superintendent based in Bantry.