The Garda traffic superintendent arrested last week on suspicion of drink driving will not return to work to serve his notice ahead of his planned retirement, it has emerged.
Supt Jim Fitzgerald on Friday indicated to senior management at Garda Headquarters, Phoenix Park, Dublin, that he intended to apply for retirement from the force. That application is expected to be formally progressed this week with the speedy processing of the necessary paperwork.
Normally a retiring garda would be expected to serve out a month's notice but informed sources have said this will not apply in Supt Fitzgerald's case.
He is expected to take leave owed to him immediately. His retirement will be formalised within a fortnight, meaning he will not work as a member of the force again.
He has served the 30 years needed to be entitled to a full pension. His pension entitlements are unchanged following his arrest near Loughrea, Co Galway, last Thursday.
He will receive a pension which will be the equivalent of 50 per cent of his €94,000 salary. He will also receive a once off gratuity payment of about €140,000.
The alleged drink-driving incident took place at about 8.15pm on Thursday near Loughrea. Supt Fitzgerald pulled in to a petrol station just outside the town. A member of the public who saw his driving became concerned and called gardaí. A Garda patrol car located Supt Fitzgerald and his unmarked Garda car. He was arrested on suspicion of drink-driving.
He is one of five superintendents to have been appointed as dedicated traffic and road safety officers in the past fortnight.
They were created in an effort to develop better management of road safety and traffic matters in the regions.