THE GOVERNMENT has approved the promotion of four Garda officers to assistant commissioner, the third most senior grade in the force.
The selection process finished on Monday with names selected by the promotions board sent to Cabinet for approval yesterday.
All four promoted officers are men and are uniformed members rather than detectives.
The promoted officers are: Chief Supt Willie Keane, who has been based in Henry St station in Limerick city in recent years; Chief Supt Mick Feehan, currently based in Dublin’s north inner city in Store St; Chief Supt Fintan Fanning, who has been based in Dublin’s south inner city at Pearse St; and Chief Supt Kevin Ludlow, who has been based in Anglesea St, Cork city.
The promoted officers have overseen all elements of policing, from gangland crime to public order, in what are regarded as the busiest and most challenging districts in the country.
It is not yet clear where the new assistant commissioners will be posted.
Garda Commissioner Fachtna Murphy will announce their postings as early as today.
It is expected that the newly promoted officers will head up Garda divisions around the country rather than fill posts at Garda headquarters.
There will be a further two vacancies next year among the ranks of the 12 at assistant commissioner level.