Garda complaints body GSOC will be led by a former director of US Homeland Security, Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan has announced. 

Patrick Sullivan (pictured above) has been appointed to the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission following an independent international competition.

He steps into the shoes of Mark Toland recently appointed Chief Inspector with the Garda Inspectorate.

GSOC is led by a three-person commission of chairwoman Justice Mary Ellen Ring and former RTE journalist Kieran Fitzgerald.

With over forty years’ experience in federal law enforcement in the US, the minister said that Sullivan would bring a “different perspective” to the policing oversight work of GSOC. His term will run until December 2020.

Policing oversight

“The international nature of his knowledge and experience can only serve to benefit GSOC in policing oversight matters,” the minister said.

Sullivan’s most recent position was in the investigations unit of the US Environmental Protection Agency. He testified on this work before US Congressional and Senate committees.

As a secret agent, Sullivan worked in counterfeit, presidential protection, anti-smuggling and organised crime divisions.