Garda Ombudsman staff named

The Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission today announced a number of senior appointments.

The Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission today announced a number of senior appointments.

Paul Buschini, a former senior police officer from Lancashire, will become the commission's director of investigations, and Ray Leonard has been appointed the deputy director.

Anthony Duggan will be the commission's director of administration, and Michael O'Neill will be the head of legal affairs for the body, which is responsible for investigating complaints against the force.

Kieran FitzGerald has been named as the head of the communications and research departments.

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The commission has decided to retain former detective chief superintendent John O'Brien as a senior Garda consultant.

The new appointments join Mr Justice Kevin Haugh chairman of the commission, and other commissioners Carmel Foley, former director of consumer affairs, and Conor Brady, former editor of The Irish Times.

The commission is expected to be fully operational by the second quarter of next year and will have an annual budget of €10 million.