Dublin: Senior Garda Shortlisted For Top PSNI Post

Assistant commissioner derek Byrne is on the shortlist for the chief constable job in the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI).

He is one of three candidates that are to be interviewed today to replace Chief Constable Matt Baggott who announced that he is retiring.

Cressida Dick from the Metropolitan Police and the PSNI’s George Hamilton have been shortlisted for the job.

Gardaí

Derek Byrne, from Dublin, joined the gardaí in 1979. He served as sergeant in Clones, Cabra and Blanchardstown.

He was promoted to inspector in 1992 and served at Coolock, Blanchardstown, Finglas, Cabra and Pearse Street. in 1999, he was promoted to Superintendent and served at Tallaght, Store Street and the Garda National Drugs Unit (GNDU).

He was then promoted to Chief Superintendent and served at the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) and Pearse Street.

In 2007 he was promoted to Assistant Commissioner and served in the Northern Region before moving to National Support Services in October 2008.

He is highly qualified having a BA in Police Management, an MA Violence, Terrorism and Security from Queens University in Belfast, and an advanced diploma in police leadership.

He has also atteneded the FBI National Academy and Harvard University.

Byrne also took a course at the Anti-Terrorist Branch New Scotland Yard in Bomb Scene Management and Terrorist Investigation.