This article is from page 6 of the 2009-11-17 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 6 JPG
LESS THAN six months after she took up the post as head of policing in Clare, Chief Superintendent Mary Fitzgerald has announced that she 1s Kom Kein Ker
Chief Supt Fitzgerald arrived in Clare in June, having previously been the head of the Garda Reserves. Her retirement will take effect on Der ilelo mes
It means that further changes are due in Garda management in the Clare Garda Division — which in- cludes the districts of Ennis, Shan- non, Kilrush, Killaloe and Ennisty- mon. Ms Fitzgerald was the third person to fill the role as chief super- intendent since Liam Quinn retired in December 2006.
He was replaced by Gerry Mahon, who, in turn moved to Limerick and was replaced by Kevin Donohoe. Chief Supt Donohoe was head of the Clare Division between December 2008 and June of this year. Chief Su- perintendent Mahon will also retire in the coming weeks.
The latest batch of retirements have emerged in the wake of several gardai opting out of the force this year for various reasons. Nationally, 708 gardai have retired or declared their intention to retire this year, in- cluding up to a dozen in Clare — in- cluding two garda sergeants.
The retirements include three as- sistant commissioners, 12 chief su- perintends, 26 superintendents, 31 inspectors, 166 sergeants and 466
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The numbers are the highest in 13 years and are far higher than levels recorded in recent years. There were 259 retirements last year and 184 in 2007. There were just 200 recruits to the force this year — there is currently a moratorium on job creation in the public service. Residents in rural parts of the county have expressed Losier u MDA MB Keo OLMmN DELO) INOKMmOercI Mmm ele retirees will not be replaced, due to cutbacks across the board and fear that community policing will suffer as a result.
Meanwhile, Detective Garda Ter- ese Flannery has been appointed the juvenile liaison officer (JLO), based at Ennis Garda Station. She succeeds Garda John O’ Neill, who recently re- tired from the post.
The role of the JLO is to deal with young offenders, under the age of 18.