Retirement of popular Community Garda

After serving 26 years at Dunshaughlin Garda Station, Derek Halligan retired recently. Derek has been a very popular Community Garda in the Ashbourne District in recent years, along with Barbara Kelly, delivering the Garda schools programme and attending meetings, Garda clinics and all manners of community policing events and issues, from Dunshaughlin right over to Laytown.

Barbara says: "Derek was never off duty as a Community Garda, always responding even when he was on his days off. He worked tirelessly and with the motivation of a young recruit despite his 30 years service. Throughout his career he has dealt with every type of incident you can imagine . He did so with empathy and professionalism. His knowledge and experience with be greatly missed by all in the Ashbourne Garda District and particularly by the community he served in Dunshauglin."

She added: "I know Derek will miss the camaraderie of An Garda Siochana along with the good people of Dunshaughlin and surrounding areas. We wish him a healthy and happy retirement with his wife and their two fantastic children."