Top Garda posts could be filled after legal ruling

The way has been cleared for the Government to proceed with the long-delayed appointment of the second and third most powerful positions in An Garda Siochána.

One of the two deputy commissioner positions has been vacant for two and a half years, while the second has not been filled for a year.

Following a High Court decision yesterday the recruitment process is expected to proceed. A spokesman for Department of Justice said: “The matter of making appointments to the posts in question will now be considered further in light of judgment having been handed down in this case.”

Assistant Commissioner Fintan Fanning sought an injunction restraining the recruitment process for the posts, but was yesterday refused. Mr Fanning was one of seven candidates interviewed for the job by a Public Appointments Service panel. It put forward three names for the two deputy commissioners positions (operations and strategy).

The three nominations were assistant commissioners John Twomey (Dublin and Traffic), Donal O Cualain (Western) and Kieran Kenny (Northern). Mr Twomey and another assistant commissioner Donal O’Cualain are filling the deputy commissioner positions on an interim basis.

It is thought Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald will now be able bring the three names to Cabinet for a decision.

That in turn will necessitate a recruitment process for vacancies at assistant commissioner level. In addition to Mr Twomey, two other assistant commissioners are also doubling up — John O’Mahoney (Crime & Security and South) and Jack Nolan (Organisational Strategy and South East).

If Mr Twomey is promoted — as is expected — it will leave five assistant commissioner positions to be filled.