Heads of Garda special units named

Garda Commissioner Noel Conroy has announced the appointment of nine chief superintendents to specialist units and Garda divisions around the country.

The transfers and promotions will see new senior officers at the head of the Criminal Assets Bureau (Cab) and the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB).

Chief Supt John O'Mahoney will move from the Dublin metropolitan regional (DMR) office to take charge at Cab at Harcourt Square, Dublin. He takes over from the outgoing head of Cab, Chief Supt Felix McKenna, who is due to retire from the force next month.

Chief Supt O'Mahoney is a former detective superintendent at the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation. He spent much of his earlier career in Dublin in the central detective unit.

Chief Supt Martin McLaughlin moves from his current position in the Sligo-Leitrim division and will now take charge at GNIB which is based on Burgh Quay, Dublin. He had previously worked as a superintendent in Cab. The current head of GNIB, Chief Supt Derek Byrne, will head up the south central division of DMR. He has spent long portions of his career working as a detective in Dublin.

Chief Supt Kieran Kenny will take up the top posting in Sligo-Leitrim following Chief Supt McLaughlin's move to GNIB. Chief Supt Kenny is newly promoted from his superintendent's position in Donnybrook station, Dublin.

Chief Supt Gerry Phillips transfers from DMR traffic to take charge at the DMR north division based at Santry. He takes over from Chief Supt Peter Maguire who has just retired.

Newly-promoted Chief Supt Liam Hayes will take charge of the Kerry division based in Tralee. Chief Supt Pat Hogan, who has been promoted from superintendent in the special detective unit, has been posted to the Garda internal audit division at Garda headquarters, Phoenix Park, Dublin.

Chief Supt Aiden Reid moves from the Garda internal audit unit to take charge at DMR traffic. Chief Supt Tom Conway moves from the Kerry division to the DMR regional office at Harcourt Square. He has previously worked as a superintendent at Pearse Street station, Dublin.

The transfers and promotions take effect during the first two weeks of next month.