New Garda Superintendent expected to be appointed to Longford in early May

A new Garda Superintendent is expected to be assigned to Longford Garda Station in early May.

Outgoing Superintendent Michael Dorrigan, who originally took up the post in Longford in August 2024, will be moving to Dundalk Garda Station in the intervening period. 

It is known that a number of names are currently in the running for the position in Longford. 

Political figures within the county however have called for a minimum term limit to be included in the new Superintendent's contract as a means of preventing Longford from being used as a brief stepping stone by Gardaí wishing to climb the career ladder.

They pointed out that more stability is needed, particularly given the issues in the county.

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Deputy Micheál Carrigy TD voiced his disappointment with the slow changeover, and cited the need for it to be a direct transition.

He told The Longford Leader, “It's important that an immediate replacement is announced following the appointment of Superintendent Dorrigan to a new post."

"I’m disappointed there wasn't somebody put in place immediately, but I will be contacting and talking to the Minister for Justice and sending correspondence to the Garda Commissioner to make sure it happens; that the position is immediately resourced and that also we get the additional resources we were looking for in Longford as well.”

"When a person has been taken from a role, it should be identified then who is going to take over that role and there should be a seamless transition."

"We have a large county population, nearly 50,000. We had a time when we had two superintendents, so I don't think there should be any transition period. There should be a straight changeover with a new Superintendent."

Commenting on the ideal candidate to take up the role, Deputy Carrigy said he would prefer to see the new superintendent "from Longford, who is based here and who knows every part of the county." 

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While Councillor Peggy Nolan commended Superintendent Dorrigan's work, she said the short tenure of superintendents in the county was now a cause for concern. 

She told the Longford Leader, “I sat on a committee with Superintendent Dorrigan, and I found him to be an exceptionally tuned-in representative of the Garda force in Longford. He's not the first superintendent to go after a minimal amount of time in Longford. That's something that has to be sorted."

Cllr Nolan added, "I would hope that a new superintendent is appointed without delay and that it would be part of their appointment contract that they have to stay in Longford for a minimum of three years. Anything shorter is no good because they're only finding their feet; finding the needs of the community."

"It's also crucial that anything the new superintendent says is needed in the Longford area, is attended to. There should be no limit on resources. We're a town that needs physical guardians on the street. We know we have our internal problems no more so than any other town or any other county."

Cllr Nolan pointed out that the position of Longford Superintendent "should not be used anymore as a career stepping stone."

She added, "The role needs somebody that wants to make a difference. Most importantly, the men and women that serve in Longford need that security. The men and women that serve the Garda force in Longford need the stability of a permanent fixture for minimum two to three years."  

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Independent Councillor Mark Casey said he would be “concerned about any delay” in appointing a new superintendent and added that Longford needed “consistency and stability” given all the issues in the town. 

Niall Gannon also added that the best result would be "a local superintendent who is willing to stay long term and who has a track record of engagement with local stakeholders and community in Longford town and county."