No1 priority is to clean up act of toxic Force

THE appointment of Drew Harris as the next Commissioner is a revolutionary solution that may solve the problem of An Garda Siochana’s toxic management structures.

He is an experienced officer with years of fighting the good fight against terrorists in the North.

He has worked closely with the Garda Special Detective Unit as they fight to secure not alone the Irish State but keep all the citizens of Ireland safe.

He has suffered at the hands of IRA killers and has a keen understanding of the trauma of being a victim.

His work with MI5 will leave some with doubts but this is a professional officer and his allegiance will be to the Force he now serves.

The lead concern for rank-and-file gardai will be whether or not he is willing to go to bat for them – whether or not he will stand up for their interests and that of the broader Force.

The upper echelon of An Garda Siochana is a quagmire of cliques and nepotistic allegiances – that is a view supported by reports into the toxic culture in the halls of Garda Headquarters.

A recent survey of officers found the Force is riddled with a disconnect between the rank and file and those who run policing in this country.

Speaking to both senior and junior ranked gardai it is clear that what they are asking for is a clean out of the bad apples in management and a gutting of those who put their own ambitions before the Force.

This can be achieved by putting a halt to the bad governance that has caused the Force to stumble.

But also, critically, a Number

One needs to be put in place who understands the difficulties faced by those who man Ireland’s thin blue line.

There needs to be a desire to change, a desire to move forward and embrace the best practices of other forces who have reformed.

Only time will tell whether Mr Harris has the ability and vision to bring An Garda Siochana to a bright new era.