Safe Balbriggan Pillar ratified by Balbriggan Leadership Group

The Balbriggan Leadership Group ratified the establishment of a Safe Balbriggan Pillar at its quarterly meeting yesterday.

This brings to five the number of pillars that the Leadership Group is responsible for with Safe Balbriggan being added to Local Economy & Enterprise, Community Affairs & Integration, Employment, Education & Training and Public Realm & Placemaking.

At the meeting retired Garda Assistant Commissioner Michael O’Sullivan was appointed as the Chair of the Safe Balbriggan Pillar and the Leadership Group agreed terms of reference, membership and works programme for the new Pillar.

Former Assistant Commissioner O’Sullivan retired from An Garda Síochána in March 2020 after a 39-year career serving in a wide variety of roles in Ireland, the European Union and internationally.

He has held a number of key positions in An Garda Síochána, most recently as the Assistant Commissioner in charge of national security and intelligence.

He remains a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police and, in July 2020, he was appointed by Government, for a four-year term, as one of the lay person nominees to the Judicial Council of Ireland’s Sentencing and Guidelines Committee.

Professor Brian MacCraith, Chair of the Balbriggan Leadership Group, said:

“The establishment of the Safe Balbriggan Pillar is an important step forward for the Leadership Group as it is directly in response to community feedback seeking investment in this sphere.

“I would like to thank the Department of Justice, An Garda Síochána and Fingal County Council for the work they have done since last October to establish a framework for this new Pillar.

“They have also sourced an excellent leader for the Pillar in former Assistant Commissioner Michael O’Sullivan and his huge experience from 39 years as a police officer working in Ireland and abroad will be of tremendous benefit to Balbriggan as we seek to enhance community positivity and well being through multi-agency collaboration and community policing initiatives.”

Michael O’Sullivan, Chair of the Safe Balbriggan Pillar, said:

“I am delighted to have been appointed as Chair of the Safe Balbriggan Pillar and become a member of the Balbriggan Leadership Group.

“We have put together a strong team to oversee the Safe Balbriggan Pillar and have a comprehensive programme of works to deliver.”

In addition to former Assistant Commissioner O’Sullivan, the membership of the Safe Balbriggan Pillar will also include representatives from Department of Justice, Department of Children & Youth Affairs, An Garda Síochána and Fingal County Council as well as Public Sector, Education Sector and Community Sector representatives and a member of the Leadership Group.

The Safe Balbriggan Group will hold its first meeting next Tuesday, February 23.