Supt McKenna in charge of Westport and Belmullet Districts

Supt McKenna to look after Westport and Belmullet Garda Districts


Anton McNulty

The new Superintendent in charge of the Westport District will be Joe McKenna who will also remain in his current position as the Superintendent of the Belmullet District.
The temporary arrangement was made when a vacancy opened in the Westport District following the transfer of Superintendent Aiden Foley to Castlerea. Supt Foley was appointed to serve in Westport in early 2012 following the retirement of Supt Mick Murray.
Westport native, Joe McKenna who has been in charge of the Belmullet District since April 2013 when he was promoted to the rank of Superintendent will now look after both Districts.
“I will be minding the two areas, both Belmullet and Westport and I have not been formally moved anywhere. It is a temporary arrangement at the moment until a full-time appointment has been made,” Supt McKenna told The Mayo News.
Supt McKenna said will be assisted in his Belmullet duties by newly promoted Inspector Tom Calvey who will be stationed in Ballina Garda Station following his transfer from Castlebar Garda Station where he served as a sergeant. Supt McKenna said he will be assisted by Inspectors in Ballina and Castlebar in looking after both Districts and explained he was not aware when a permanent Superintendent will be appointed to the Westport District.
Geographically ,the Belmullet and Westport Districts are some of the biggest in the country and Supt McKenna will be responsible for policing from Erris to the Galway border.
There were further promotions in the rank of Inspector in the county with Mandy Gaynor transferring to Castlebar Garda Station from Ballina where she served as a sergeant. Inspector Shane Cummins will now serve in Claremorris Garda Station having worked in the Superintendents office in Galway as a sergeant.