Competition to fill Garda deputy commissioner role to begin in October
Assistant Garda Commissioner Paul Cleary will act as deputy Garda commissioner as the competition to fill the role gets underway. File picture: Leah Farrell/RollingNews
A competition to fill a vacancy of garda deputy commissioner — the second-highest rank in the service — is expected to be launched next month.
It comes as Garda Headquarters announced on Friday that the position is being filled on a temporary basis by Assistant Commissioner Paul Cleary.
He has moved from the head of the Dublin Metropolitan Region to the post of deputy commissioner security, strategy, and governance.
A Garda HQ statement said: “Assistant Commissioner Paul Cleary shall be temporarily performing the functions of acting deputy commissioner, in an administrative capacity with responsibility for security, strategy, and governance, with effect from September 16, 2025, pending the position being filled on a full-time basis.”
The position became vacant after its incumbent, Justin Kelly, was appointed Garda Commissioner.
He started the job on September 1, taking over from Drew Harris, who held the post since September 2018.
The garda statement said that Assistant Commissioner Cliona Richardson was taking temporary responsibility for Dublin — in addition to her current role as Assistant Commissioner for the North Western Region.
It said that Chief Superintendent Catharina Gunne has been promoted to assistant commissioner and that she will be taking over roads policing and community engagement from today.
The statement said that Assistant Commissioner Paula Hilman retains responsibility for the Garda Eastern Region, after jointly holding the Roads brief.
As reported in the 'Irish Examiner' last month, Ms Gunne was number one on the panel for promotion to assistant commissioner.
The second on the panel, Chief Supt Denis Ferry, will assume the next vacancy at assistant commissioner.
The decision by Garda HQ to publicly confirm that Mr Cleary was taking over the role of deputy commissioner temporarily is seen as an indicator that he could be favourite for the position, once it is advertised.
It is unclear at the moment if any of the other assistant commissioners are interested in applying.
Previous concerns at the high pension burden attached with the commissioner post dogged the competition.
There are reports that this issue appears to be in the process of being addressed, but it is yet to be seen if it affects prospective applicants for the deputy commissioner position.
There could be external candidates for the deputy commissioner position, either from the PSNI, or from other jurisdictions.
There are two deputy commissioners in the organisation, the other being Shawna Coxon, who joined An Garda Síochána from the Toronto Police in Canada in February 2021.
Ms Coxon holds the position of Deputy Commissioner Operations.
Two of the assistant commissioners were appointed to that rank from the PSNI — Ms Hilman in May 2020 and Jonathan Roberts in August 2022.
The justice minister, through the Department of Justice, is taking the lead on the deputy commissioner competition.
The department invites the Public Appointments Service to carry out the competition for the purpose of recommending a person to the Government, with the Cabinet making the final decision.
The department must consult the Garda Board and the Policing and Community Safety Authority on criteria for the position before announcing the competition.
