Appointment of new Garda Superintendent for Letterkenny is 'imminent'

The appointment of a new Garda Superintendent at Letterkenny Garda Station is ‘imminent’ - after a 20-month absence.

The station, which is said to be one of the busiest in the northern region of An Garda Siochana, has been without a Superintendent since February 2024.

The vacancy will now be filled in the coming weeks.

Speaking at the relaunch of Coastal Watch Donegal - a multi-agency initiative involving An Garda Síochána, the Irish Naval Service and Revenue’s Customs Service - in Killybegs this week, Chief Superintendent Goretti Sheridan confirmed the news.

“A new Superintendent will be arriving imminently,” Chief Superintendent Sheridan said.

In February ’24, following the elevation of the Rathmullan woman to the top job in the force within the county, a void was created with Sheridan having been the Superintendent beforehand.

Inspectors can carry out some of a Garda Superintendent's roles, but only through a formal delegation in writing from a Superintendent.

In April, a new model rolled out with Donegal split into two community engagement areas, Donegal South and Donegal North, functional areas, replacing the old model of four Garda Districts -  Letterkenny, Buncrana, Milford and Ballyshannon. 

Each division now comprises four functional areas: community engagement, crime, performance assurance and business services. Each area is led by a Superintendent or acting superintendent with the exception of the business services functional area, which is led by an assistant principal. 

“We have been endeavouring to get more resources in Donegal to commence the model and we have certain undertakings from the organisation,” Detective Superintendent Michael Comyns, the general secretary of the Association of Garda Superintendents, told Donegal Live recently.

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“We have concerns about changing over when there is no superintendent in charge of that particular area.

“There hasn’t been a superintendent in Letterkenny in some time and we have been given an undertaking that that vacancy will be filled. It will be filled as soon as the national promotion panel is sorted and that competition is about to be advertised, we understand.”

Some public representatives and community groups have also spoken out about the absence, but the matter is set to be addressed.