*John Kerin. Photograph: John Mangan
A successor to John Kerin as Chief Superintendent in County Clare will “be appointed in the very near future”, Assistant Commissioner Anne Marie McMahon has confirmed.
Speaking at a special meeting of Clare County Council on Monday, the Southern Region Assistant Commissioner for An Garda Síochána diffused concerns that the county would remain without a Chief Superintendent.
Kerin had served in the role from February 2010 up until January 1st 2019, it has remained vacant since. “I can tell you there will be a replacement in the very near future, I understand it will be in the relatively near future which is very good news,” McMahon said.
Fine Gael’s Johnny Flynn welcomed the announcement. “It is very reassuring to hear the Chief Superintendent post will be filled. We have had enormous cooperation and success working with the predecessor”.
“It is very important for the status of our county that we have a Chief Superintendent”, Cllr PJ Ryan stated, “We have an international airport with a lot of traffic coming through it”, the Independent councillor added.
According to Cllr John Crowe, “People were afraid we were going to lose our Chief Supterintdent. John Kerin was excellent, he was a great leader and we don’t want to lose that”.
“It is excellent news to know we are going to have a Chief Superintendent in place. What timeline are we talking about,” Cllr Joe Cooney asked. “The quicker the Chief Superintendent could be appointed, the better”. “The policing authority appoint the rank of Chief Superintendent, the allocation is a matter of the Garda Commissioner and I’m reliably informed that it will be in the very near future,” Anne Marie replied.
