Statement by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence, Alan Shatter, TD, on the retirement of Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan

I wish to pay tribute to the Garda Commissioner, Martin Callinan, on his retirement from An Garda Síochána.

As Commissioner and throughout his very distinguished service in the Force he has made an enormous contribution to fighting crime and I believe that this contribution will be seen as a legacy of which he can be very proud and for which the community he served are in his debt.

The high reputation of An Garda Síochána has been gained down through the years through people’s experience of dealing with members like Martin Callinan, often at times of great difficulty. I believe, at these challenging times for the Force, the men and women who serve in it will continue to enjoy the respect of the community they serve, often at great risk to themselves.

I extend to him my sincere thanks for his dedication and service to the State throughout his long and distinguished career.

25 March, 2014