New Chief Supt. to be appointed next week

A NEW Chief Superintendent is set to be appointed for Co. Mayo next week.

Supt. Joe Doherty has been appointed Acting Chief Supt. for the county following the retirement earlier this week of Chief Supt. Tony Healy, despite efforts to delay his leaving by two years.

Tributes were paid to Chief Supt. Healy today (Friday) when the county's joint policing committee met online, particularly for his work to tackle drugs and enhance community policing.

His replacement, Supt. Doherty, did point out that he would be acting for a short period only.

With Mayo becoming part of a wider garda district that also includes Longford and Roscommon, Acting Chief Supt. Doherty explained how Tony Healy was Chief Supt. in those two counties and was Acting Chief in Mayo for the last two years.

A new Chief Supt. is to be appointed on July 9 for Roscommon and Longford and they will also take over in the Mayo Division.

Also at the meeting, concern was expressed about the proposed introduction of new community safety partnerships - a forum that which will see reduced councillor representation from that currently on the joint policing committee, with just two members.

The meeting is to reconvene before the end of the month for a discussion on the proposal.