Assistant Commissioner, North Western Region

Cliona_Richardson

Name: Cliona Richardson

Native of: Dublin

Appointed: 11 February 2023

Joined: 1990

Career highlights:

Assistant Commissioner Cliona Richardson was head of the Liaison and Protection Section of An Garda Síochána, which has responsibility for the protective security of the State and its institutions, Major Emergency Management and a strong Liaison Function. She has 30 years policing experience in a range of operational roles, including the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the Criminal Assets Bureau, District Officer in Ballinasloe and prior to her promotion to Detective Chief Superintendent was in charge of An Garda Síochána’s National Criminal Intelligence Unit (NCIU).

In addition to her protective security role including the co-ordination of security for visiting VIPs, Assistant Commissioner Richardson had responsibility for the network of Garda Liaison Officers internationally, the SIRENE BUREAU and the operation of the Schengen Information System (SIS II). She is currently the head of the EUROPOL National Unit in Ireland and head of the INTERPOL National Central Bureau for Ireland. She has represented An Garda Síochána on a number of national and international working groups relating to the exchange of information and international co-operation.

As head of An Garda Síochána’s Major Emergency Management Unit, Assistant Commissioner Richardson had responsibility for the running of the COVID-19 Co-ordination Unit since it was established in 2020 to manage An Garda Síochána’s strategic response in a co-ordinated manner as the pandemic evolved.

Qualifications:

Assistant Commissioner Richardson has a Degree from UCD/Smurfit Business School in Police Leadership and Governance and completed An Garda Síochána’s Policing and Human Rights Law in Ireland certificate programme in conjunction with the University of Limerick. She is a graduate of the FBI National Academy and a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) and the EUROPOL Management Board in The Hague.