Kerin appointed as Clare chief superintendent

THE Clare Garda Division has secured the appointment of a new chief superintendent and as a result, Belharbour man John Kerin is to return to his native county to head the division.
The North Clare man has been brought in to fill the vacancy left in the division by Chief Superintendent Mary Fitzgerald’s retirement last December. The administrative role of the Clare Garda Division had been tasked to Galway Chief Superintendent Donal O’Cualáin in the absence of a chief superintendent in the county.
Chief Superintendent Kerin returns to Clare next week, having previously held the position of superintendent in Ennis for seven years before his transfer to Henry Street Garda Station in Limerick in early 2007.
Subsequent to this move, he was promoted to chief superintendent in 2008, taking over as head of the Kerry Garda Division. For the last two months, he has looked after the administration of both Limerick and Kerry Garda divisions, following the retirement of Chief Superintendent Gerry Mahon in Limerick.
Speaking to The Clare Champion, Chief Superintendent Kerin said he was “delighted and honoured to be chosen to come back to my native county. I’m very happy about the move and I look forward to working there once again.”
The chief superintendent started his career in Mallow and then moved to Clonmel as detective sergeant before another transfer on promotion to Henry Street in Limerick, where he held the position of detective inspector. He was involved in specialist training at the Garda College in Templemore for a nine-month period prior to taking up the role as superintendent in Ennis.
Fine Gael TD Joe Carey welcomed the new appointment but speaking in the Dáil, he warned that there is an exodus of experienced members from the force.
“Last year alone, three assistant commissioners, 12 chief superintendents, 26 superintendents, 31 inspectors, 166 sergeants, along with 466 garda all left the force. This to my mind has created a serious situation. If these positions are not filled immediately, we run the risk of having a force that has a serious deficit of leadership and experience,” Deputy Carey said.
He added, “The appointment of John Kerin as the new chief superintendent will help bolster and strengthen the garda force in County Clare. This appointment comes as many members of the force and local communities have been frustrated at the effect the recruitment embargo has had on frontline public services. Chief Superintendent Kerin is a hugely experienced and reputable member of the gardaí and will be a huge addition for County Clare.”