Latest news with #JustinKelly
Irish Times
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Irish Times
Key challenges for incoming Garda commissioner Justin Kelly
Fifty-three-year-old Dubliner Justin Kelly is set to assume the mantle of leadership when Garda Commissioner Drew Harris retires in a month. Here are the key challenges he faces in the role. Garda numbers Garda numbers are at just over 14,300 despite targets of 15,000 in the short term and 18,000 in the years to come. The process of applying for the Garda, securing a place and getting a start date for training can be protracted. Consequently, some of those accepted into the force have secured other jobs or moved abroad by the time they receive a firm start date for training. As such, some of the classes passing out from the Garda College in Templemore , Co Tipperary, have been as low as 140 this year. That is far short of the 200 personnel the college can handle in each of its four intakes per year. As well as streamlining recruitment, the number of recruits in training also needs to be increased by using satellite Garda training centres, home study and other measures. READ MORE Domestic and gender-based violence Last month, Women's Aid published research that found 44 per cent of women who contacted the force for assistance over domestic violence or abuse found gardaí unhelpful. Though the Garda has established a National Protective Services Bureau for dealing with vulnerable victims targeted by sexual and gender-based violence, there is more work to do. It appears more training is required across the force, not just for a dedicated bureau or local units, to ensure an improved and more consistent response to victims of gender-based violence. Garda morale Relations between the commissioner and Garda Representative Association (GRA) have been extremely poor, so much so that it has been corrosive for morale in the force. The GRA, which represents more than 11,000 rank-and-file gardaí, has refused to invite the commissioner to its annual conference and also held a vote of no confidence in him. The commissioner was hired from the Police Service of Northern Ireland in 2018. The fact that a so-called 'outsider' was appointed has been the source of considerable resentment for many in the Garda, especially the GRA. Though the incoming commissioner is not an outsider, that is no guarantee that relations between him and the representative group will be better. The GRA vs Harris dynamic has been such a problem for so long that it has become toxic. A reset may prove more challenging than even senior GRA personnel anticipate. The new commissioner must manage the situation carefully. Drug trade Violent gangland feuding – with up to 20 gun murders per year – was witnessed during the Celtic Tiger period and also a decade ago as the Kinahan-Hutch feud began. However, more recently, the Garda has gained the upper hand on some of the most dangerous crime groups, and gangland killings have been limited to one or two per year. Despite this, recent seizures of drugs and cash have been unprecedented in value. The most organised drug gangs are enjoying a boom, selling into a prosperous economy where the demand, particularly for cocaine, is insatiable. The experience of the Kinahan cartel demonstrates that ambitious, well-drilled gangs, given the space to grow their operations quickly, become so wealthy and powerful that their leaders become impossible to catch. The Garda must continue to strike against the domestic gangs. And there is also the matter of the Kinahans – Christy snr and his sons, Daniel and Christopher jnr – remaining at large in Dubai.
Irish Times
4 hours ago
- Politics
- Irish Times
Who is Justin Kelly, the Garda commissioner in waiting?
Having joined An Garda Síochána as a recruit at the Garda College, Templemore, Co Tipperary, in 1992, Deputy Commissioner Justin Kelly will now be responsible for leading the force when Garda Commissioner Drew Harris retires on September 1st. The Government on Tuesday confirmed the appointment of Kelly, a 53-year-old from Dublin 6 , as Garda commissioner. The contract is for five years, on a current salary of €314,512. Kelly is relatively young to take on the top policing post in the Republic. And as the retirement age in the force was increased from 60 to 62 years, he could serve as commissioner for the next nine years. That is assuming he would want to, and that he would be offered contract extensions by the Government, though extensions are common for senior officers. An athlete who still runs the marathon in under four hours, Kelly emerged as the preferred candidate from a recruitment competition, which attracted 14 applications for the job, that began in May. It concluded last week when the final interviews were conducted. While he has no public profile to speak of – something that will now change quickly – he is well known and popular across the Garda. News of his appointment was well received across the ranks, especially in the context of concerns that a foreign police officer, or even a civilian, could be parachuted into the Garda commissioner's role. 'He'd be seen as 'one of our own', if you like,' said one source. 'He's come up through the ranks and I suppose he'd be someone who knows the experience of the average [garda] member because he's lived that experience.' Other sources said he was regarded as a 'real police man' and someone who had a track record in crime investigation rather than 'gimmick police work'. Kelly is a married man with children and cut his teeth as a rank-and-file garda in some of Dublin's busiest stations. He is best known for his involvement in policing operations to combat serious organised crime. Last year, in an attempt to strengthen ties between the Garda and international law enforcement, Kelly went to Colombia . He ventured into the jungle with police commandos to view coca crops and just-discovered cocaine production facilities. He has also been to Dubai to build relationships with its police there, as the force continues to pursue the Kinahan cartel 's leaders and other Irish drug dealers. He began his career policing the streets of Dublin while attached to Garda stations in Clondalkin, Blanchardstown and Tallaght. Once he was promoted for the first time – from the rank of garda to sergeant – his ascent up the ranks was rapid. He has also accrued diverse experience in policing and academia. Kelly's early years as a manager in the force were as an inspector, leading uniformed frontline gardaí in Clondalkin and Blanchardstown . He also spent time as a detective inspector at the Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau which is a hands-on role where he would have managed investigations and on-the-ground operations involving surveillance, intelligence gathering, in addition to search–and-arrest operations. In 2001, he was seconded to work for the United Nations in Bosnia Herzegovina, where he helped build the capacity of local law enforcement in the aftermath of the Balkan War. As a detective superintendent, he managed the Garda National Protective Services Bureau which investigates crimes involving vulnerable victims, including sexual offences and domestic violence. At the rank of chief superintendent, both in uniform and as detective, he was leader of the Special Detective Unit, the force's counterterrorism squad. When appointed to the rank of assistant commissioner, he was in charge of the Garda's serious and organised crime branch – one of the most pressurised positions in operational policing. In that role, which he filled until last October, he was in charge of most of the Garda specialist units that tackle crimes as varied as drug trafficking, gang feuding, fraud, cybercrime and immigration, among others. He was appointed to the rank of deputy commissioner – in charge of security, strategy and governance – just nine months ago, but has now already left that rank behind and secured the top job for which he was seen as the clear favourite from the moment it was confirmed he had applied for the role. Kelly has a law degree from University College Dublin, a Master's of Criminal Justice from the John Jay College, New York, an MBA from Dublin City University and a Master's of Serious Crime Investigation from the University of Limerick.
RTÉ News
6 hours ago
- Politics
- RTÉ News
What challenges face the new Garda Commissioner?
Justin Kelly has been announced as the next Garda Commissioner and will take over from Drew Harris on 1 September. He has been appointed by the Government after a Cabinet meeting. Who is Justin Kelly? Justin Kelly has been a member of An Garda Síochána for more than 30 years. The Dubliner currently serves as Deputy Commissioner for Security, Strategy and Governance, having been appointed to the role last October. Before that, as assistant commissioner for serious and organised crime, the 52-year-old was responsible for leading the force's response to drugs and organised crime, cybercrime, economic crime, immigration, crimes against vulnerable people as well as the needs of victims. During his career, he was also detective chief superintendent in the Counter-Terrorism Unit, detective superintendent with the National Protective Services Bureau and detective inspector in the Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau. In these roles, Mr Kelly had responsibility for the response to domestic and international terrorism, violent political extremism and online child exploitation investigations. He also served as a frontline sergeant, inspector and garda in Blanchardstown, Clondalkin and Tallaght in Dublin. In 2001, Mr Kelly was seconded to work for the United Nations in Bosnia-Herzegovina, where he monitored and built the capacity of local law enforcement. He has a number of qualifications achieved through institutions in Ireland, the United States and the UK. These include a first class master's degree in serious crime investigation from the University of Limerick and a masters in criminal justice from John Jay College in New York. What challenges does Justin Kelly face as commissioner? Since 2018, An Garda Síochána has been working to implement a number of initiatives to reform the force including a new operating model, improved technology and fostering diversity and inclusivity. There has also been a focus on greater support and training for members as well as an enhanced service for the public. Among Mr Kelly's main tasks will be the issue of recruitment and retention, which garda representative associations say has been allowed to reach "crisis levels". They have concerns over the "high level" of resignations from the force as well as the struggle to recruit members. The associations also have issues over salaries, particularly for new recruits and those serving in lower ranks. Mr Kelly will also have to defend the new operating model in the face of strong criticism from the associations. The Garda Representative Association (GRA) recognises that Mr Kelly has had a distinguished career in An Garda Síochána. It says there are serious challenges ahead however in relation to morale, community policing and the retention of gardaí and the association is seeking a meeting with him. The Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI) has also welcomed the appointment, saying it has dealt with Mr Kelly in the past and that he has listened. It says that when it had issues with the information management system (an administration system), Mr Kelly met with the AGSI, listened to it and made the changes. The AGSI also said Mr Kelly needs to continue to listen and to continue to refocus An Garda Síochána.
Irish Examiner
10 hours ago
- Politics
- Irish Examiner
ieExplains: Who is new Garda commissioner Justin Kelly?
From September, a new man will be in charge of An Garda Síochána. Justice minister Jim O'Callaghan announced on Tuesday that Justin Kelly will be replacing Drew Harris as Garda commissioner. Here, we look at who Mr Kelly is, and what his career path has been to date. Where is Justin Kelly from? Mr Kelly is a native of Dublin. How long has Justin Kelly been a garda? Mr Kelly first joined the gardaí in 1992. From then up until 2017, he held a number of ranks including garda, sergeant, and inspector. He served as a frontline inspector in Blanchardstown and Clondalkin. In 2001, he was seconded to work for the United Nations in Bosnia and Herzegovina, where he worked monitoring and building the capacity of local law enforcement. In 2017, he was appointed as a detective superintendent in the Garda National Protective Services Bureau. His work there led to an appointment as detective chief superintendent in the Special Detective Unit in 2020. There, he was tasked with leading the Operational Counter-Terrorism Unit. When was Justin Kelly appointed as assistant commissioner? From May 2022 to October 2024, Mr Kelly served as the assistant commissioner in charge of Serious and Organised Crime. In his role, he was responsible for the national units and investigations into drugs and organised crime, cybercrime, economic crime, immigration and crimes against vulnerable persons. Mr Kelly was appointed deputy commissioner for Security, Strategy and Governance in October 2024. What about his education and qualifications? Mr Kelly has a bachelor's in civil law from UCD, a master of criminal justice from John Jay College in New York, a master of business administration from DCU, a master of serious crime investigation from the University of Limerick and has completed a strategic command course at the College of Policing, UK. What will his new salary be? The salary for the Garda commissioner role is currently €314,512. The Department of Justice says this reflects "the size and unique complexity of leading An Garda Síochána, which is a very large policing service with over 18,000 employees, and includes lead responsibility for the security of the State". When will he start as Garda commissioner? Mr Kelly will take up the new role on September 1, with Mr Harris remaining as commissioner until that date. He is eligible to serve a five-year term, or until reaching the retirement age of 62. There is provision in the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act, 2024, for an extension of up to two further years, subject to Government approval. Read More Justin Kelly to succeed Drew Harris as new Garda Commissioner
Sunday World
10 hours ago
- Politics
- Sunday World
New Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly announced to replace Drew Harris
Current commissioner is expected to serve his term until September before retiring The Government has appointed Justin Kelly to the post of Garda Commissioner, replacing Drew Harris, who will retire later this year. The role, with a salary of at least €314,000, will see the new commissioner appointed to a five-year term or until the retirement age of 62. He will lead a total workforce of nearly 18,000 people, comprising sworn gardaí, garda staff and reserve gardaí. Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan said: 'I am very pleased that the Government has today accepted my recommendation to appoint Justin Kelly, who is currently serving as Deputy Commissioner Security, Strategy and Governance, as Commissioner of An Garda Síochána following an open competition conducted by public jobs. "The role of Garda Commissioner is one of the most challenging and impactful leadership positions in Ireland's public service and the appointment process was suitably rigorous. 'I am satisfied that Justin Kelly is both qualified and particularly well suited to the role of Commissioner given his extensive leadership experience over the last 30 years in some of the most challenging issues facing An Garda Síochána including national security, domestic and sexual violence, and organised crime. "I know Justin is fully committed to providing a high visibility, highly trusted policing service to the public in keeping with the Garda mission of Keeping People Safe.' Garda Commissioner Drew Harris. Photo: PA Mr Kelly has 31 years' service in An Garda Síochána. He was employed as a police officer in 1992 before rising through the ranks to detective, detective superintendent, detective chief superintendent and assistant commissioner. Previously, as assistant commissioner of serious and organised crime, he was responsible for leading the national policing response in areas of drugs and organised crime, cyber crime, economic crime, immigration and crimes against vulnerable persons. He was appointed Deputy Commissioner, Security, Strategy and Governance last October. Deputy Commissioner Justin Kelly News in 90 Seconds - Tuesday, July 29
