Tributes as police ‘legend’ retires after 40 years

TRIBUTE upon tribute have been heaped on the man who trained nearly one-third of the current serving gardaí, as he retired from the force after 40 years of service.

More than 300 people — including former Garda commissioners, Fachtna Murphy and Noel Conroy — attended a special function on Friday to mark the retirement of Chief Superintendent Kieran McGann, who started his career in Fermoy, Co Cork, as an ordinary member of the force and finished it there as a very senior policeman.

Only a few years ago the native of Bellharbour, Co Clare, was promoted to director of training at the Garda College in Templemore and oversaw the policing education of the biggest influx of recruits in the history of the state — 4,228.

The guest list at the function, which was held in Midleton Park Hotel, read like a who’s who of the country’s top gardaí and judiciary.

Assistant Commissioner Willie Keane, who is in charge of the Garda Southern Region, said Kieran was held in high esteem by not only members of the force, but by the public at large.

Lower ranks agree, and Sergeant Eamonn O’Connor, who works in Carrigtwohill, got a huge round of applause when he described what “his chief” was really like.

“He (Kieran) is a legend. He’s well-liked by everybody and will always be treated with the respect he deserves,” Sgt O’Connor said.

“He is a man of the people.”

Despite being known as a tough cop when he needed to be, leading several serious operations including the biggest land seizure of cocaine in the state’s history which happened last month in Bartlemy — many community groups and gardaí testified that Chief Supt McGann would go out of his way to help genuine people in need.

Mallow-based Supt Pat McCarthy said his boss showed “great humanity” behind the scenes, helping many families and on a multitude of occasions had “gone far beyond the call of duty.”

The chief’s greatest loves were described as his family, his job and the GAA.

Frank Murphy, secretary of the Cork County Board, told the audience that Kieran continued to be “a very dedicated and esteemed member” of the county’s organisation.

It is widely predicted that his retirement will see him take an even more active role in the GAA.

In response to the accolades Kieran provided the audience with an often side-splittingly funny and sometimes self-deprecating account of his career.

He added that despite his 40 years in the force, his “service to the community was far from finished”.