Taoiseach welcomes new Garda commissioner

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said newly appointed Garda commissioner Justin Kelly has a proven track record in areas including national security, organised crime, and domestic and sexual violence.

On September 1, Mr Kelly will replace Drew Harris, who is to retire after seven years as commissioner and a total of 41 years policing service.

Mr Kelly is currently a deputy commissioner and has been appointed to the commissioner role for the next five years. The selection process identified 14 candidates and included two interviews and a presentation, and Mr Kelly was selected as the preferred candidate.

From Dublin, Mr Kelly has more than 30 years of policing experience and was appointed to his current role in October 2024.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin “warmly welcomed” the appointment, saying: “Currently serving as deputy commissioner security, strategy, and governance, Justin will bring much expertise and experience from his 30 years in the gardaí to the job.”

He explained: “The role of the Garda commissioner is hugely important and challenging. Justin is highly qualified, with a proven track record in leadership roles in the Force and extensive experience in many areas of policing, including national security, organised crime, and domestic and sexual violence. I wish him the very best in his term.

“I also want to pay tribute to outgoing commissioner Drew Harris for his leadership of An Garda Síochána over the past seven years. Commissioner Harris has led An Garda Síochána with great distinction through a period of significant reform in the organisation. I wish him the best of luck for the future.”

In Mr Kelly’s 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. From 2020 to 2022, he was detective chief superintendent, leading the Garda operational counter-terrorism unit, the special detective unit.