ASSISTANT GARDA Commissioner Nóirín O’Sullivan has become the first woman to be promoted to the position of Deputy Commissioner of An Garda Síochána, the second most senior posting in the force.
Her appointment, which was approved at yesterday’s Cabinet meeting, means she is now regarded by many as the favourite to one day lead the force.
Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence Alan Shatter and Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan attended a media event at Government Buildings in Dublin, at which Ms O’Sullivan’s appointment was announced.
Mr Shatter extended his congratulations saying Ms O’Sullivan had already served with distinction in a variety of posts across the force. “I know that she will bring formidable qualities of ability, experience and commitment to her new role of deputy Garda commissioner, and that she will be a major addition to top Garda management.”
Her appointment as deputy commissioner in charge of operations fills the vacancy left by Martin Callinan when he was appointed Garda Commissioner last year.
Ms O’Sullivan will now be responsible for all operational policing and national security within the State. There is just one other officer at the same rank, Deputy Commissioner Nacie Rice who is in charge of strategy and change management.
Ms O’Sullivan, who is from Dublin, has for the past two years been assistant commissioner in charge of crime and security, the intelligence gathering element of the force.
She joined the Garda in 1981 and had become a detective in the national drugs squad just four years later, spending much of her early career working in drugs investigations in Dublin. In 2000 she was promoted to the rank of superintendent and served at the Garda College, Templemore, Co Tipperary, where she was responsible for specialist training.
She later served as superintendent in the Garda National Drugs Unit. In 2003 she was promoted to the rank of chief superintendent as head of the Garda Technical Bureau and also served in human resource management.
In 2007 she became only the second woman, after now retired Catherine Clancy, in the history of the Garda to be promoted to the rank of assistant commissioner.
At that rank she has been head of policing in the Garda’s western division and served in human resource management.
In June 2009 she became assistant commissioner in charge of crime and security.
Her career path in recent years, from assistant commissioner at crime and security to deputy commissioner, is one that has been followed by a number of senior officers who went on to become Garda commissioner.
She has a masters of business studies from UCD. In 2007 she completed an executive education programme in “driving government performance” at Harvard University.
She is currently completing the national executive institute programme at the FBI Academy in Quantico, US, designed for chiefs of police worldwide.