Anne Marie Cagney

Assistant Commissioner

Anne Marie Cagney was appointed as Assistant Commissioner in April, 2020 and is regional commander of the Dublin Metropolitan Region. Anne Marie has 31 years’ experience in An Garda Síochána in both strategic and operational policing roles. She also held responsibility in leading a significant programme of change and renewal in An Garda Síochána.

Prior to taking up her role as Regional Officer, Anne Marie was a Chief Superintendent in the DMR East Division and previously held the role of Detective Superintendent with national responsibility for Human Trafficking Investigations and Organised Prostitution Investigations. She also held responsibility for the development of policies and support structures for victims of crime and works in collaboration with partner agencies in educating and raising awareness of the effects and causes of trafficking. She is a trained Senior Investigating Officer and manages and coordinates the investigations of major crimes.
She also held national responsibility for the Garda Victim Liaison Office whose aim is to enhance the Garda service being provided to victims of crime and traumatic events by providing a respectful, reassuring, responsive and reliable service.

She is the holder of a degree in Law and an honours BSc degree in Police Management from University College Dublin. She successfully completed the Criminal Justice Strategic Leadership Course and holds a Professional Certificate in Whistleblowing Law & Practice from University College Dublin. Assistant Commissioner Cagney is also a member of the International Association of Women Police.

Paula Hilman

Assistant Commissioner

Paula Hilman had 34 years’ policing experience with the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) before joining An Garda Síochána in May 2020. As Assistant Commissioner for Roads Policing & Community Engagement she has responsibility for the National Roads Policing Bureau, the National Youth Diversion Bureau and the National Community Engagement Bureau.

Previously as a Detective Chief Superintendent, Paula was Head of Public Protection Branch for PSNI. The Branch was responsible for proactive and reactive specialist and serious investigations in relation to adult and child vulnerability and abuse. Paula was Chair of Strategic Management Board which oversees the Public Protection Arrangements for Northern Ireland. She was a member of the Safeguarding Board for Northern Ireland and the Northern Ireland Adult Safeguarding Partnership.

In June 2019 Paula was elected the first ever female President of the Superintendents Association for Northern Ireland, the staff association that represents the Superintending ranks within PSNI.
Paula previously held the hate crime portfolio for PSNI, internally she led on the introduction of new governance structures and policy for hate crime and externally worked collaboratively with partners to improve the response to victims. She was also the PSNI strategic lead for the integration of Syrian Refugees into NI.
As Head of Criminal Justice Branch Paula worked collaboratively with the Public Prosecution Service to establish Northern Ireland’s first Victim & Witness Care Unit and introduce Registered Intermediaries into the Criminal Justice System. Paula is an experienced Gold Public Order Commander and Strategic Firearms Commander. She has a BA (Hons) Degree in Public Policy & Management and is an alumnus of Common Purpose, the Chief Executive Forum Woman’s Leadership and Acumen Executive Leadership Programmes. In 2013 Paula was awarded a MBE for services to Policing and the Community.

Margaret Nugent

Chief Superintendent

Margaret Nugent is a Chief Superintendent in An Garda Síochána, the Irish Police Service. She has over 34 years’ experience in leadership, change management, training and development, operations and administration in the national police service. She previously served on the board of CEPOL (European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Training). She is a member of the International Association of Women Police. She is also currently a member of both the Executive Board and General Board of the European Network of Policewomen representing An Garda Síochána. Margaret is the chairperson of the Garda Síochána Women in Policing Network. She is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.

Margaret has an MSc in Management (Organisation Behaviour) from Trinity College Dublin. She also holds a Diploma in Legal Studies from Dublin Institute of Technology. She holds a Diploma in Management and Industrial Relations from the National College of Industrial Relations. She is also the holder of a Diploma in Marketing from the Marketing Institute of Ireland.

Síle Larkin

Solicitor, B.A., LL.M., Dip EU Law, Dip Judicial Review

Síle Larkin is a Solicitor and a graduate of University College, Cork and Trinity College, Dublin. She is Head of Employment Law in An Garda Síochána and provides advice on all matters relating to employment and equality law. She was previously Head of Legal, Research and Policy in the Policing Authority.
Prior to that, Síle was Director of Legal Services and Registrar in the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC). In that role she advised the Director General on all legal obligations as a public service provider and also advised adjudication officers and labour inspectors on all aspects of employment, equality and administrative law. She represented the WRC in any civil proceedings to which it was a party. She was a member of the Programme Development Group which was tasked with setting up the WRC and the underpinning legislation. She was the Director of the Equality Tribunal having been its Legal Advisor and also Head of Mediation. Síle was previously a solicitor in the Equality Authority representing complainants in equality cases before the Equality Tribunal, the Labour Court and the Superior Courts. Before that she worked mainly in the area of family and childcare law.
She is currently on the Board of the Association for Criminal Justice Research and Development (ACJRD) and is also a member of the European Employment Law Association, the Employment Law Association of Ireland, the Irish Centre for European Law and the Dublin Solicitors Bar Association. She was the on Steering Committee of the Irish Women Lawyers Association and was the Irish representative on the Board of the European Women Lawyers Association. She is also a qualified mediator.

Phyllis Nolan

Superintendent (Retired)

Phyllis Nolan joined An Garda Síochána at a time when women were a new development to the Organisation. In the ‘60’s Ban Ghardaí, as they were known, had a specific function — to deal with women and children, mainly as victims rather than perpetrators of crime. Despite the demarcation of female duties, there was variety in the work. Demands to cover all city stations where women were victims, provided many opportunities. Women underwent the same Training programme as their male counterparts, with the exception of Firearms. In those formative years, Phyllis was attached to a city centre station and transferred to the North Side of the city on promotion to Sergeant, continuing operational duties, with periods being spent in The Garda Training College.

On becoming one of the first two Ban Ghardaí to be promoted Inspector, Phyllis transferred to Garda Headquarters, attached to the newly established Community Relations Section, where she was tasked with the development of Neighbourhood Watch, Community Alert, Community Policing, the Schools Programme and Victim Support as well as the establishment of the Sexual Assault Unit and the Child Abuse Units. In the late 60’s she became involved in the IPA and was elected to the National Executive Board where she served for 35 years becoming National President, the first and only female member to hold that position.

In the early 1980’s she was elected to the PEB, the International Board of the IPA, becoming the first female and the first Irish Delegate to be elected to that Board, a position she held from 1982-2000. In 1989 she became the first female member to attain Officer Rank when she was promoted Superintendent.
During her time as District officer in Thomastown, Phyllis was selected to serve as part of the European Community Observer Mission in South Africa. This was in 1993, a time when the country was transitioning and prepared for a non-racial, one-person-one-vote election in April 1994, working as an International Peace Monitor in the townships with the local Communities and facilitating change. Meeting with Nelson Mandela was the highlight. During her career she also had the opportunity to present before Pope John Paul; meeting two such eminent leaders left lasting impressions.

In the late 1970’s Phyllis was introduced to IAWP by an IPA friend in the US, becoming a member. In 1985 she was selected as a finalist in the International and Scholarship Award, when she attended her first International Conference in Alaska, a life changing experience. The following year later she was elected Regional Coordinator for Regional 12, the world outside of North America, later as Second and then as First Vice President. She served on the Board of Directors 1986-2000. During this period she contributed to the expansions of the Regions and the further development of IAWP worldwide.
In 2011 she was awarded the Heritage Award.

Brian Gill

Superintendent

Brian Gill has over 30 years’ service in An Garda Síochána, with extensive experience in operational and specialist policing roles, including core policing, counter terrorism, serious organised crime, strategic transformation, change management, and currently risk management. Brian holds an MSc in Security and Risk Management from University of Leicester, England. He also holds a Professional Certificate in Governance (Level 9) from the Institute of Public Administration, Ireland.

Gráinne Shortall

Assistant Principal Officer

Gráinne Shortall is an Assistant Principal Officer and has worked at Garda Headquarters, Dublin, Ireland for 15 years. Her current role is Head of Liaison with the Policing Authority, one of An Garda Síochána’s main oversight bodies. Gráinne worked at the Garda Professional Standards Unit for 8 years and was Personal Assistant to Deputy Commissioner Strategic Resource Management for 2 years.

Gráinne has a Masters in Ethics (Corporate Responsibility), a Diploma in Management and a Higher Certificate in Project Management. In 2018 she participated in CEPOL Training in Fundamental Rights and Police Ethics and Management of Diversity.

Gráinne is a member of the Steering Group for the newly established Garda Síochána Women in Policing Network and is joint Activity Champion for Garda Headquarters and Harcourt Square.

Sonja Cleary

Accountant

Sonja Cleary as a Professional Accountant is a senior member of the management team in the Finance Directorate in An Garda Síochána. Ms. Cleary holds a degree in Hotel & Catering Management from the Dublin Institute of Technology and is a member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants. She has worked for over two years with An Garda Síochána and previously worked as Lead Auditor in the Office of the Comptroller & Auditor General and has extensive experience working in both the public and private sectors.

Marilyn Brosnan

Inspector

Marilyn Brosnan was appointed as an Inspector in January 2019 to the DMR East. Marilyn has 25 years’ experience in An Garda Síochána in both strategic and operational policing roles.
Prior to taking up her role in the DMR East Marilyn worked in the Special Detective Unit and has extensive experience in Counter Terrorism Investigations at both National and International level. She coordinated with EUROPOL, INTERPOL and Federal Bureau of Investigations in Major International Terrorism investigations.
Marilyn has considerable experience in growing An Garda Síochána’s capabilities in its commitment to State Security through Counter Intelligence Operations. She has managed a number of joint investigations in this respect with US and European Intelligence Services.

Also, as part of her role within the Special Detective Unit, Marilyn devised An Garda Síochána’s commitment and policing initiatives to the Irish Refugee Protection Programme in which Ireland committed to accepting up to 4,000 people into the State. She deployed teams of Specialist Interviewers to Greece, Lebanon, France, and Italy, providing comprehensive Security & Risk assessments for refugees wishing to enter Ireland.
Marilyn was deployed with EULEX to Kosovo as a Senior Organised Crime Investigations Officer in 2013/14 and her role was to ensure that high-level criminal cases, including organised crime, were investigated and prosecuted.
She is currently studying for a MLitt in Terrorism and Political Violence with St. Andrew’s University and a Professional Certificate in Governance with the I.P.A. She has successfully completed a Certificate in Terrorism Studies with St. Andrews University and holds a Diploma in Management Studies with Institute of Commercial Management.

Elisha Doyle

Garda Sergeant

Elisha Doyle joined An Garda Síochána in 1994 and served in Pearse Street Garda Station, DMR South Central, where she gained a wide range of operational policing experience through crime investigation, beat and mobile patrols, community engagement, court prosecutions, schools & business liaison and engagement, and as a Detective Aide supporting the investigation of serious and organised crime in the District.

In 2005 she was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and served in Store Street Garda Station, DMR North Central, where she gained managerial experience through the supervision and development of personnel, planning and development of operational policing responses and prevention and detection of crime initiatives.

In 2007 she transferred to the Office of the Regional Assistant Commissioner, Kilkenny with responsibility for the planning, coordination and administration of strategic and operational regional responses. Sergeant Doyle provides administrative support to the Regional Assistant Commissioner in the governance of Regional Portfolios and National Policies. She assists in the development and implementation of Policing Plans and in the implementation and monitoring of legislative developments, across the Region.
Elisha’s qualifications include a National Diploma in Policing Studies and Certificate in Strategic HRM Development

Gillian Guy

Garda

Gillian Guy is a Garda in An Garda Síochána, the Irish Police Service. She has 16 years’ experience in areas such as equality, diversity and inclusion, human resource management, operational policing and administration in the national police service. She previously contributed to the organisation of the Annual Garda Memorial Day in Dublin Castle, the 1916 Commemoration Event in Dublin Castle 2016 and was a key coordinator in An Garda Síochána’s participation in the Dublin Pride Parade 2019. She is also the Secretary to the Women in Policing Steering Group within An Garda Síochána.

Gillian has an Honours Degree in Accountancy from the Institute of Technology Tallaght. She also holds a Professional Diploma in Employment Law (Level 9) from University College Dublin and is currently studying Equality and Human Rights.

Ciara Ahern

Public Affairs Co-ordinator

Ciara Ahern currently co-ordinates Public Affairs at An Garda Síochána, Ireland’s National Security and Police Service.