THE general secretary of the strife-torn Garda Representative Association (GRA), Mr John Ferry, is resigning for health and personal reasons.
Mr Ferry, a detective from Sligo, announced his intention to resign to members of the association's central executive at its monthly meeting in Dublin yesterday.
His announcement had been expected for some weeks. It was known he had consulted his family and doctors and had decided to withdraw from his job and to return to Sligo.
The announcement throws into further confusion the direction of the dispute which divided the GRA in 1994 and which has led to continued friction between Garda representatives and the last two Ministers for Justice.
The differences between the GRA and government have been such that the last Minister for Justice, Mrs Maire Geoghegan-Quinn, threatened to dissolve the GRA. But within two weeks she lost office with the collapse of the Fianna Fail-Labour coalition.
The present Minister, Mrs Owen, is currently guiding legislation through the Dail to set up a reconstituted GRA.
Mr Ferry had vowed to fight this legislation to the end and said his association would seek full trade union status, with the implied treat of strike action, to oppose it.
In a radio interview last month, Mr Ferry questioned Mrs Owen's ability to act as Minister for Justice. He had "grave doubts" about her ability.
There has been considerable speculation that his departure will signal moves towards compromise both between the different factions in the internal dispute and between the gardai and the Department of Justice.
However, the divisions within the representative structures of the 8,000-strong Garda ranks run deeper than is generally appreciated.
Since July 1994, when 2,500 gardai split from the GRA, both the GRA and the breakaway organisation, the Garda Federation, have undergone further internal divisions. Few officers close to the dispute expect an easy reconciliation.
The Government's Bill for a single new association is due to become law within the next two months. It is the Minister's stated hope that all 8,400 officers of garda rank will affiliate to it.
But many gardai remain deeply unhappy about the reduction in their earnings in relation to other public employee sectors.
Most representatives say the Government will have to resolve the grievances over pay before any reconciliation in the staff association can be achieved.
It was unclear last night if any further resignations would follow Mr Ferry's.
It is known that some of his close associates have also been considering their future and one was reported to have been in negotiation with Garda management about a transfer back to regular duties.