McPolin to retire

“I never say no to a woman, particular in public forum, and of course I will accept your invitation to the board when I retire.”

Those were the light hearted words of Chief Superintendent Barry McPolin after Mary Crilly, CEO of the Sexual Violence Centre Cork, asked him to join the centre’s board.

Her invitation came at Monday’s Cork City Joint Policing Committee (JPC) meeting as members wished the chief superintendent well in his retirement.

Ms Crilly said: “We are really going to miss Barry. He has come to the centre on numerous occasions and is so supportive of the Cork Against Human Trafficking initiative. Barry, I am really going to miss you and if you’re looking for something to do when you’re retired, we would love to have you on our board.”

His retirement comes after more than 30 years as a member of An Garda Síochána.

Many JPC members wished him well in his retirement including the Lord Mayor of Cork Cllr Colm Kelleher who said: “Wherever you posted over the years, you had a strong ethos of social inclusion and that the gardaí should be serving their community. Barry, you have served the community of Cork very well and as Chairman of the Cork City JPC and as Lord Mayor of Cork, I want to thank you for service, and I want to wish you and your wife a very long and happy retirement.”

Chief Executive of Cork City Council also wished him the very best. “It’s been an absolute pleasure working with him. Day or night, he always answered the phone which was a really important one from where I’m sitting,” she said.

Fianna Fáil Cllr Tony Fitzgerald wished him well as did Fine Gael Cllr Joe Kavanagh who jested that he was way too young to be retiring.

Fine Gael Senator Gerry Buttimer commended him as he rose through the ranks of An Garda Síochána. Sinn Féil TD Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire wished him well as did his party mate Cllr Mick Nugent.

The chief superintendent thanked everyone for their well wishes.