Justin Kelly named as new Garda Commissioner

Press Association

Justin Kelly will become the new Garda Commissioner on September 1st, Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan has announced.

He will replace Drew Harris, who is to retire after seven years as Commissioner.

Mr Kelly is currently a Deputy Commissioner and has been appointed for five years.

Mr O’Callaghan said: “The role of Garda commissioner is one of the most challenging and impactful leadership positions in Ireland’s public service and the appointment process was suitably rigorous.

“I am satisfied that Justin Kelly is both qualified and particularly well suited to the role of Commissioner, given his extensive leadership experience over the last 30 years in some of the most challenging issues facing An Garda Síochána, including national security, domestic and sexual violence, and organised crime.

“I know Justin is fully committed to providing a high-visibility, highly trusted policing service to the public.”

The selection process identified 14 candidates and included two interviews and a presentation.

Mr Kelly was selected as the preferred candidate.

From Dublin, Mr Kelly has more than 30 years policing experience and was appointed to his current role in October 2024. He has a background in relation to combatting organised crime groups and safeguarding the security of the State.

In his previous role as an assistant commissioner he was responsible for leading the national policing response in areas of drugs and organised crime, cybercrime, economic crime, immigration and crimes against vulnerable persons. He was the strategic lead for the development of capacity and organisational policy in areas connected with serious crime investigation.

From 2020 to 2022 he was detective chief superintendent, leading the Garda's operational counter-terrorism unit, the special detective unit. He was previously a detective superintendent as well as a detective inspector and a frontline inspector in the Blanchardstown and Clondalkin areas of Dublin.

In 2001 he was seconded to work for the United Nations in Bosnia and Herzegovina, where he worked monitoring and building the capacity of local law enforcement.

Mr Harris will continue to lead the force until September, when he will retire after 41 years of service to policing across the island.