The new deputy Garda Commissioner, Mr Peter Fitzgerald, whose appointment the Government confirmed yesterday, has served at the highest level in United Nations policing operations.
His appointment was announced yesterday with those of two new Assistant Commissioners: Mr Kevin Carty, head of the Garda National Drugs Unit, and Mr Dick Kelly, who has served as chief superintendent in Dublin's North Central Division.
Mr Fitzgerald headed the International Police Task Force in Bosnia in 1996 and 1997. Before that he had served as head of the civilian police force section of the UN mission in Cambodia in 1992-93. During his time in Cambodia he intervened several times when UN staff were kidnapped by Khmer Rouge guerrillas. Before that he served in Namibia.
Mr Fitzgerald will be responsible for administrative duties in the force. His son, Eoin, a garda serving in Blackrock Garda station, was killed in a car accident while responding to an emergency call in February.
The Assistant Commissioner, Mr Carty, has been responsible for several successes against major drugs-traffickers.
Since taking control of the Drugs Unit in 1996, he has led several operations which have netted tens of millions of pounds worth of drugs.
Before taking charge of the anti-drugs operations, Mr Carty had served in anti-subversive operations along the Border.
He led Operation Silo which resulted in the discovery of several IRA arms dumps in the south-west in 1995. It is understood he may now take up duties as Region Commander based in Sligo with responsibility for anti-subversive operations along the western Border area from Monaghan to Donegal.
It is understood Mr Kelly will serve at Garda Headquarters, although it is not clear which position he will occupy.