Keane named Limerick chief superintendent

A former recipient of a Scott Medal for bravery has been appointed to the most senior Garda position in Limerick.

Currently based at the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation, Willie Keane will take over the role of Chief Superintendent of the Limerick Garda Division next month.

A native of Newmarket, Co Cork, Chief Superintendent Keane had worked extensively at Henry Street Station in Limerick before his appointment to Detective Superintendent with the NBCI.

He was awarded the Scott Medal for bravery in the 1980s when he risked his life to save a mother and child from a house fire while stationed in Co Kerry.

He also played a prominent role in the major Garda investigation into the 1996 murder of his colleague Detective Garda Jerry McCabe.

The appointment follows the recent promotion of Chief Superintendent Gerry Kelly to the position of Assistant Garda Commissioner.

The outgoing Limerick Garda chief has headed up the Limerick Garda Division for the past five years, where he oversaw all the major criminal investigaions into the activities of the city's feuding gangs.

In his new role as Assistant Garda Commissioner, he will head up the Western Division, based in Galway.