Former student of University of Limerick appointed as garda commissioner

FORMER University of Limerick student, Justin Kelly has been appointed to the post of Garda Commissioner for a term of five years from September 1 next.

The Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, Jim O’Callaghan, has today announced that the Government has appointed Mr Kelly to the role.

Minister O’Callaghan said:

“I am very pleased that the Government has today accepted my recommendation to appoint Justin Kelly, who is currently serving as Deputy Commissioner Security, Strategy and Governance, as Commissioner of An Garda Síochána following an open competition conducted by publicjobs. The role of Garda Commissioner is one of the most challenging and impactful leadership positions in Ireland’s public service and the appointment process was suitably rigorous.

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“I am satisfied that Justin Kelly is both qualified and particularly well suited to the role of Commissioner given his extensive leadership experience over the last 30 years in some of the most challenging issues facing An Garda Síochána including national security, domestic and sexual violence, and organised crime. I know Justin is fully committed to providing a high visibility, highly trusted policing service to the public in keeping with the Garda mission of Keeping People Safe.”

The recruitment process for the new Garda Commissioner was the first undertaken under section 26 of the new Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024 which the Minister commenced in April. A three-week recruitment campaign was held by publicjobs (formerly the Public Appointments Service) in May, including an international search for suitable candidates, which resulted in 14 candidates.  The selection process included two interviews and a presentation by candidates as well as a detailed psychometric assessment.

Deputy Commissioner Kelly was selected as the preferred candidate and recommended for appointment by publicjobs and he was today appointed by the Government as Commissioner with effect from September 1 next. Commissioner Drew Harris will continue to lead An Garda Síochána until that date, at which time he will retire after 41 years of service to policing on the island of Ireland, including a total of seven years as Garda Commissioner.

The Minister added:

"There will be further opportunities over the next month to reflect on Commissioner Harris’s contribution, but I really want to recognise his leadership and commitment over the last seven years. The Government is very grateful to him for leading An Garda Síochána with such dedication, skill and integrity.  It is a measure of his steady and effective leadership that the organisation maintains very high levels of public trust after what had been a very turbulent period for An Garda Síochána prior to his appointment.

“In creating a national network of Divisional Protective Services Units, he transformed the quality of Garda investigations into domestic and sexual crimes. He has determinedly focused on tracking down and prosecuting those involved in organised crime, including building international partnerships to seek them out, leading to a very substantial measurable drop in gun-related deaths in Ireland, as well as significant increases in seizure of drugs and cash. His leadership of An Garda Síochána throughout the Covid pandemic was exemplary and the country owes him a debt of gratitude for all his work.”

Commissioner Drew Harris congratulate Deputy Commissioner Justin Kelly on his appointment. "Justin is an internationally-recognised police leader who has built coalitions with other law enforcement agencies and partners that have disrupted and dismantled trans-national organised crime gangs."

Mr Harris continued: "As Deputy Commissioner, Security, Strategy and Governance, Justin has also played a major role in delivering the Operating Model that has delivered benefits for front-line Gardaí, Garda staff, and most importantly, the public."  

"Justin’s extensive experience and expertise in leading a wide-range of operational and organisational areas will be of immeasurable benefit to him as Commissioner."

"I look forward to working with Justin in the weeks leading up to him becoming Garda Commissioner in September 2025," added Mr Harris.

Mr Kelly has more than 30 years policing experience and was appointed to his current role as Deputy Commissioner Security, Strategy and Governance in October 2024. He has a strong background, both academically and in operational policing, particularly in relation to combatting organised crime groups and safeguarding the security of the State.   

In his previous role, as Assistant Commissioner, Serious and Organised Crime, he was responsible for leading the national policing response in areas of drugs and organised crime, cybercrime, economic crime, immigration and crimes against vulnerable persons. Mr Kelly was the strategic lead for the development of capacity and organisational policy in areas connected with serious crime investigation. 

From 2020 to 2022 he was Detective Chief Superintendent, leading the Operational Counter-Terrorism Unit, the Special Detective Unit. Mr Kelly was previously Detective Superintendent, Garda National Protective Services Bureau, as well as a Detective Inspector, Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau, and a frontline Inspector in the Blanchardstown and Clondalkin areas of Dublin.