The Government has appointed the current Deputy Commissioner Justin Kelly as the new Garda Commissioner.
Commissioner Kelly replaces Drew Harris, who was the first person appointed to the position of Garda Commissioner not to have previously served in An Garda SÃochána.
He takes over the position when Commissioner Harris retires on 1 September.
Deputy Commissioner Kelly has served over 30 years at all ranks in An Garda SÃochána and was appointed as Deputy Commissioner Security, Strategy and Governance last October.
He was previously the Assistant Commissioner in charge of Serious and Organised Crime responsible for the national units and investigations into drugs and organised crime, cybercrime, economic crime, immigration and crimes against vulnerable persons.
Justin Kelly also served in the Garda Operational Counter-Terrorism Unit, the Special Detective Unit and the Garda National Protective Services Bureau and was a uniformed garda, sergeant and inspector in Clondalkin, Blanchardstown and Tallaght.
He has a degree from UCD, an MBA from DCU, a masters in serious crime investigation from the University of Limerick, a master’s in criminal justice from John Jay College in New York and has completed the strategic command course at the UK College of Policing.
He was seconded to work for the United Nations in Bosnia Herzegovina in 2021 where he worked monitoring and building the capacity of local Law Enforcement.
Outgoing Garda Commissioner Drew Harris said Mr Kelly’s “extensive experience and expertise in leading a wide-range of operational and organisational areas will be of immeasurable benefit to him as Commissioner”.
“Justin has over 30 years of dedicated and highly professional service in An Garda SÃochána.
“During this time, he has held many significant portfolios preventing and tackling crime and terrorism.
“This has included senior roles in the areas of national security, cyber-crime, organised crime, and domestic and sexual violence,” he said.
“I look forward to working with Justin in the weeks leading up to him becoming Garda Commissioner in September 2025.
“Personally, I want to wish him and his family all the best in him leading this great organisation and continuing its mission of keeping people safe,” Mr Harris added.
In a statement, the Garda Representative Association congratulated Mr Kelly on his appointment.
“Commissioner Kelly has had a long and distinguished career in An Garda SÃochána and is well aware of the concerns and unique challenges that each member of rank faces on a daily basis,” General Secretary Ronan Slevin said.
However, Mr Slevin added that “serious challenges remain unresolved”.
“Over the past decade, we have faced a recruitment and retention issue that has been allowed to reach crisis levels,” he said.
Mr Slevin said he has written to Mr Kelly to formally request a meeting to discuss the association’s concerns.