Fire chief to step down from post
GREATER Manchester’s embattled fire chief is to stand down after less than three years in the post.
Peter O’Reilly told councillors yesterday he will take his pension from February 5, the earliest possible date.
The county fire officer had been damaged by a furious four-month row over the service’s response to the Manchester Arena attack, as well as ongoing battles with the unions over reforms to brigade shift patterns and job conditions.
As of next February he will have done 30 years in the service, although many had originally expected him to serve a longer term in charge.
He told councillors on the region’s fire committee: “After much soul searching and discussions with my family I have decided to retire.
“It has been an absolute pleasure working for you, the Fire Authority, GMFRS colleagues and the people of Greater Manchester. Manchester will remain my home and Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service will always be close to my heart.”
The Fire Service’s response on the night of Manchester Arena attack is under investigation as part of an independent review into how all emergency 999 crews reacted on May 22. Furious firefighters blame the chief for preventing them attending the scene for 90 minutes when other bluelight services did so immediately.
Mr O’Reilly was appointed chief fire officer in 2015 at the age of 48. Previously Greater Manchester’s assistant county fire officer, he had served most of his career in his native Northern Ireland.
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham said the chief had done much to shape the future of the fire service.
He said: “I would thank him for his service to people, not only here, but in Northern Ireland where the majority of his career was served.
“I sincerely wish him every success for the future. In particular, I was hugely supported by his leadership following the fire at Grenfell Tower in June and I appreciated his immediate drive to help me provide reassurance to Greater Manchester residents.”