Athlone's garda chief set for promotion

Athlone's most senior garda, Superintendent Aidan Glacken, is set for a promotion after being nominated for the role of Chief Superintendent by Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan. Supt Glacken was one of 12 Garda superintendents across the country to be nominated for promotion by the Commissioner last week as the force prepares for a number of retirements at Chief Superintendent level. It is expected Supt Glacken will take up a Chief Superintendent role by the end of the year. Speaking to the Westmeath Independent this week about his upcoming promotion, Supt Glacken said: "I'm delighted I have been selected by the Commissioner for promotion. I will take whatever challenges come my way. I have had a great experience in Athlone, I have a wonderful staff and have had fantastic support from the public in Athlone at all times, and there have been some difficult times." He said the general public had always responded to the gardai's policing needs and he was sure this would continue long after he had left the district. Having first joined the force in 1983, Supt Glacken has had a long and varied career, having served in Longford, Athlone, Ballyshannon in Donegal and in Mullingar. His roles before taking up the post of Superintendent in Athlone included having responsibility for the traffic unit in the northern region and also working out of the Regional Commissioner's Office in Mullingar. Since taking up the role of Superintendent in Athlone, he has worked on a number of high profile cases.