Tributes paid to former Assistant Commissioner O'Driscoll

The Taoiseach Simon Harris, Minister for Justice Helen McEntee and Garda Commissioner Drew Harris have paid tribute to the former Assistant Commissioner John O'Driscoll who died suddenly in Dublin earlier today.

The 64-year-old was the head of the Garda’s Special Crimes Operations and responsible for building partnerships with law enforcement agencies in the UK, Europe and the United States which targeted transnational organised crime groups.

His work with the US authorities led to the establishment of a $15m fund for information on the leadership of the Kinahan Organised Crime Group now based in Dubai.

He served in An Garda Síochána for 41 years and led the local drugs unit in Dublin’s north inner city during the heroin epidemic and the protests against drug dealers in the 1990’s.

He served in Kildare and Mayo and also worked abroad, leading a team in Thailand helping Irish relatives find missing loved ones following the tsunami in Phuket in December 2005.

He was also the head of the Garda National Immigration Bureau and led the investigation in 2001 when eight refugees were found dead in a container in Rosslare in December.

The garda investigation later led to a successful prosecution in Belgium.

The Taoiseach said he was a "true leader" and a "very respected and admired member of the garda family".

Ms McEntee said he served the State with integrity and distinction and was a man who was completely dedicated to public service.

She also said he mentored scores of gardaí throughout his career, built strong teams and played a leading role in devising and implementing the garda’s international partnerships to tackle organised crime groups.

Such was the importance of that work that he was granted a special dispensation by Government to remain on in An Garda Siochana for two years beyond the then statutory retirement age of 60.

On the night he retired in 2022, he did not leave his office until a quarter to midnight.

Commissioner Harris described him as "an outstanding member of An Garda Síochána who worked tirelessly to protect the most vulnerable in society".

He was he said "a great advocate for the power of sport, particularly boxing, in helping and supporting children from deprived areas."

The Commissioner also said that "in recent years, he was to the forefront in garda successes against organised crime" and that he "helped save lives and protect communities from the scourge of drugs".

John O'Driscoll is survived by his wife Muriel and his children, Michelle, Laura and Seán.