Hopes vacant Garda Sergeant roles will be filled shortly

It’s hoped Garda Sergeants in Ballyconnell and Ballyjamesduff will be replaced in the coming months.

The positions became vacant following retirements recently but a lack of replacements means they’re being covered temporarily.

The vacancies were questioned at the Cavan Joint Policing Committee today with calls for the positions to be filled quickly.

Sinn Féin TD Pauline Tully asked when the vacant role in Ballyconnell would be filled following the retirement of Sergeant Shane Heslin.

Cavan Superintendent Padraic Jones said another Sergeant has taken on responsibility in the west Cavan town temporarily.

He told the meeting the last competition for Garda Sergeants was held in 2016 and all who made the promotion list have now been promoted.

But he said a new competition has now opened and it’s hoped the vacancy would be filled by the end of this year or in early 2022.

Bailieborough Superintendent Gordon Englishby said three Gardaí are currently stationed in Ballyjamesduff but the Sergeant role is again occupied temporarily.

He told the meeting a list of vacancies has been supplied by the Chief Superintendent to Garda Headquarters and it’s hoped personnel will be allocated shortly.

For more on this see next week’s Anglo-Celt.