‘Exceptional leader’: Taoiseach pays tribute as Cork garda chief retires

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has wished Chief Superintendent Tom Myers, the outgoing head of policing in the Cork City Garda Division, well in his retirement.

Mr Myers is to stand down today, having been originally due to retire in 2023 on his 60th birthday, before successfully seeking a two-year deferment.

Mr Myers took over as chief in the Cork City division in November 2021, and his retirement comes in the same week as a record allocation of 48 new gardaí — 36 new recruits and 12 transfers — arrived in the city.

Mr Martin said he had known Mr Myers for many years, and holds him in high regard. 

“He is an exceptional leader who worked very well with the community and with business leaders in the city,” he said. 

“He was a very strong advocate for An Garda Síochána within the city and particularly for the need for additional resources, and he was very effective in the deployment of the resources that he had. 

"He was well respected across all strata of society.”

Cork city native

A popular chief with his staff, his tenure has generally been viewed favourably in the city, but the amalgamation earlier this year of garda units at Douglas and Carrigaline, and Bishopstown and Ballincollig, a move necessitated by a lack of garda numbers, proved controversial.

A northsider born and reared, the Cathedral Rd native joined An Garda Síochána in 1984 and was posted around the country in different ranks.

“I was here in Cork, primarily,” Chief Supt Myers told The Echo in February 2022.

“I spent most of my time in the drug squad. I was a superintendent in Mayfield for a while, I was a super[intendent] here in Anglesea Street for a while, a chief in Kerry and a chief in Fermoy. I’ve been around the block.

“Generally speaking, though, I was Cork-based.”

Earlier this year, he told this newspaper: “Policing used to be about the gardaí before, but it’s not about us anymore.

“We can’t police the city unless we have all the stakeholders onside, and that’s a fact.

“We all have our part to play in keeping our city safe.”

His replacement has yet to be announced.