New Garda chief vows to beat gangland criminals

The new Garda Commissioner Fachtna Murphy today vowed to use his time as the Republic’s most senior police officer to clearing the streets of gangland crime.

The former detective, in his first public interview as the head of the force, also signalled his plans to target drug traffickers with every resource at his disposal.

But he insisted uniformed officers will remain unarmed despite the surging gun culture and seemingly increasing ruthlessness of gangsters.

“My job will be to ensure people feel safe on the streets, and feel safe in their beds and that’s where the Garda Síochána will not let up,” he insisted.

Commissioner Murphy succeeds Noel Conroy who has stepped down from the top role after more than four decades in the force.

The Corkman was the first chief of the Criminal Assets Bureau, set up just over 10 years ago to put organised crime gangs out of business following public revulsion over the murder of journalist Veronica Guerin.

“Gangland crime is one area that I’m concerned about,” he said.

“The murder rate is up this year. One murder is one murder too many but as far as I’m concerned all the resources of An Garda Síochána will be brought to bear on the gang crime, the drug trafficking problem and any other major areas that arise from time to time.”

The former Deputy Commissioner, who took the reigns on Wednesday, promised a breakthrough in the coming months on unresolved cases involving gangland criminals.

“While the picture might have looked bleak in terms of results, I can assure you that in many of these crimes we are following up the leads and I look forward to some results in the very near future,” he said.

“The bottom line is, for the common good, I want to make the streets safer, I want to target the supply side of the illicit drugs trade and I want to ensure gangland crime is rid from our society. ”

Commissioner Murphy ruled out arming uniformed officers despite debate within the rank and file after the shooting and targeting of members.

He said appropriate units in the force would use firearms where necessary.

“My focus will be on maintaining an unarmed uniformed presence,” he added.

He also appealed for the public to work with gardaí in helping to make the State safer from criminals.

“We need to get the help of the community right across the board and I would be appealing to people to help us out,” he said.

“For my part you can be assured that I will give it all the resources of An Garda Síochána, including the Criminal Assets Bureau, the specialist units and the people on the beat who are very important.”

Commissioner Murphy has served in a number of Dublin divisions as well as the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation and has directed operations against organised crime gangs, drug trafficking, serious and subversive crime.