Big changes for Meath on the way under new Garda Operating Model

The new Garda Operating Model will see the number of divisions in the country reduced from 28 to 19 as divisions are amalgamated including Meath and Westmeath.

Up to 2008, Meath was joined with Louth for policing purposes, until the new standalone Meath Garda Division was set up. In 2019 it was announced that Meath and Westmeath will join with one chief superintendent and six superintendents covering both counties.

The districts of Trim, Ashbourne, Kells and Navan will cease and will no longer have their own superintendent and management team. Instead there will be superintendent assigned to Meath North and one to Meath South based in Ashbourne. The third superintendent will be over the county of Westmeath.

The remaining three superintendents will have portfolios rather than geographical districts including crime, governance and community engagement. There will be more inspectors assigned to each portfolio.

News that the divisional headquarters would be based in Mullingar rather than in Meath which is the bigger county, caused a lot of anger locally. The lack of a fit-for-purpose building in Navan for a divisional headquarters is likely to have been a major factor in the decision. While works are currently under way to build a new custody suite and office accommodation, it is a confined site for further improvements.

The new chief superintendent for Meath, also covering Westmeath, John Dollard, however will be based in Navan for the time being.