Drug testing for Garda personnel a priority for new Asst Commissioner

Ballinacree native and former CAB chief appointed to the rank of Assistant Commissioner in the Garda Síochána

OLDCASTLE man, Patrick Clavin, has been appointed to the rank of Assistant Commissioner in the Garda Síochána.

A son of Benny and Ellen Clavin, Pat had been appointed to the role of acting assistant commissioner last April and has had responsibility for governance and accountability in the Garda Síochána since that time.

His recent appointment was made to fill a vacancy in the rank arising from an appointment to Deputy Commissioner earlier this year.

Pat grew up in Ballinacree with two brothers, Eamon and Declan, and went to Ballinacree National School and St Finian's Mullingar.

He attended UCD before joining An Garda Siochana and his first posting was to Dún Laoghaire, where he met his wife Marie. The couple have one grown up daughter, Lisa.

A former Chief of the Criminal Assets Bureau, Pat's new role will include responsibility for and the development of the new anti corruption unit.

He will also have responsibility for internal affairs, professional standards, risk management, the ethics and culture bureau and the policy and governance unit.

"One of my key priorities will be introducing drug testing for garda personnel.

"There is a major challenge of illegal drug use in society and gardai are no different. It can cause major problems if gardai are using illicit drugs," he said.

"It is about improving behaviour," he added. Pat has extensive and varied experience in urban and rural policing. When he started out in Dún Laoghaire, the work was varied and after ten years he was promoted to sergeant in Carrick-on -Shannon, later returning to Dublin and Dún Laoghaire.

In 2000 he was promoted to Inspector and was Detective Inspector with the newly formed Garda National Immigration Bureau.

"I was there from the start and we had to build the unit from the ground up working with UK and EU colleagues, Europol and Interpol."

He was promoted to Superintendent in 2005 to Cahir in Tipperary, returning to Dublin in 2007.

In 2012, was appointed a chief superintendent to Garda headquarters where he had responsibility for Garda Professional Standards and Internal Affairs.

"I was appointed as the divisional officer in Blanchardstown, a very busy suburban area and in 2016, I was appointed Chief Bureau officer with CAB."

Last year, he was appointed as acting assistant Commissioner. Garda Commissioner Drew Harris has welcomed Pat's appointment.

"This appointment is very welcome. Pat has 39 years of policing experience across a wide variety of roles and areas in An Garda Síochána. His operational and professional standards experience will be of immense benefit to the organisation,” said Commissioner Harris.