ONE of the country’s most senior police officers walked the beat in the county town last Friday afternoon (August 20), following a visit to Ennis Garda Station.
Formerly the Deputy Police Chief of Toronto, Dr Shawna Coxon was appointed to the role of Deputy Commissioner of An Garda Síochána earlier this year. She is responsible for Strategy, Governance and Performance, and, alongside West Clare Native, Anne Marie McMahon, is one of two officers who hold the rank.
At Ennis Garda Station, she was welcomed by Chief Superintendent Seán Colleran and Superintendent Brendan McDonagh.
Dr Coxon toured the station which is Divisional Headquarters for the new Clare-Tipperary Garda Operating Model. She met frontline personnel and expressed her appreciation for the commitment and dedication shown by Gardaí, particularly during the pandemic.
Deputy Commissioner Coxon also noted the imminent retirement of Superintendent McDonagh next month, and thanked him for his 40 years of service to the force, 33 of which were in the Clare Division.
After Deputy Commissioner Coxon was accompanied by two Clare officers on the streets of Ennis. “It was a pleasure to visit the beautiful community of Ennis,” she said, “and to meet the hardworking Gardaí and members of staff who have worked so tirelessly through the pandemic.”
Among those who escorted Dr Coxon on her tour of Ennis Garda Station was Inspector Morgan O’Donoghue.
“It was a huge honour to welcome Dr Coxon as Deputy Commissioner of An Garda Síochána here to Ennis here today,” he said. “This was her first major visit to the Western Isles, and she decided to select Ennis, which was a huge honour and privilege. She took a cursory he wrote walk around the entire environs and met some Garda staff and frontline personnel. And she also had in-depth meetings with, the superintendent and the chief superintendent.”
Inspector O’Donoghue noted that the Deputy Commissioner’s visit also touched on the phased work of restructuring the force at regional and divisional level. In the Southern Region, Ennis Garda Station is the Divisional Headquarters for Clare-Tipperary.
“There are huge changes in An Garda Síochána, as regards the implementation of the operating model throughout Ireland and it involves various amalgamations throughout the country,” he said. “These amalgamations as pertaining to ourselves will be the amalgamation with Tipperary, which is a challenge. Deputy Commissioner Coxon came down here today to support to offer us support and her experience and expertise as regards this.”
Inspector O’Donoghue also paid tribute to Superintendent McDonagh, ahead of his retirement from the force.
“Superintendent McDonagh has 40 year service with An Garda Síochána, 33 of which was here in the Clare division,” he outlined. “He has been a huge mentor for nearly all the nine inspectors that are currently attached to the Clare Division at the moment. He’s been a role model personally to me. I was fortunate enough to be allocated the role of Assistant Superintendent under his tutelage. So I’ve worked very closely with Brendan for the last two-and-a-half years. We’re going to miss him deeply and his expertise, his knowledge of the division and his very welcoming attitude towards everyone. He treated everyone the same. And he certainly is going to leave big shoes to fill in the future.”