GSOC welcomes its first Chief Executive Officer, Sheila McClelland

The Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) has today (Monday 9 September 2024) welcomed the appointment of Sheila McClelland as Chief Executive-designate for Fiosrú the Office of the Police Ombudsman.

GSOC Chairperson Rory Mac Cabe and Commissioner Emily Logan, along with GSOC’s staff, look forward to working with Sheila McClelland in preparation for the transition to Fiosrú during what will be a period of transformation and change for GSOC, and for Ireland’s broader policing accountability infrastructure. The functions of the Chief Executive as set out in the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act, 2024 are to implement the policies and decisions of the Police Ombudsman; and to carry on and manage, and control generally, the staff, administration and business of Fiosrú. The Chief Executive will also be the accounting officer for Fiosrú which will have its own Vote following commencement of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act, 2024.

Commenting today, GSOC Chairperson Rory MacCabe said:

“Appointment of our successor organisations new leadership represents an important step in our organisational transition to Fiosrú – Office of the Police Ombudsman.

Emily Logan and myself warmly welcome Sheila to GSOC in advance of commencement of the new legislation: the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act, 2024, which will see a restructuring of governance to include Sheila as the first Chief Executive Officer of Fiosrú the Office of the Police Ombudsman.”

Notes

Sheila McClelland was the CEO of the Health and Social Care Professional’s Council, CORU after taking up her appointment on 8 April 2024. Ms McClelland has an extensive back ground in regulation and health policy

Previously Sheila McClelland was appointed interim CEO of the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI) in June 2019 before being confirmed as permanent CEO in January 2022.

Prior to this, Ms McClelland was the CEO of Carrickfergus Borough Council in Co Antrim and the Director of the Council of Curriculum, Examination and Assessment.

Ms McClelland has recently been appointed a member of the Maynooth University Governing Authority (National University of Ireland).

The Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024 (PSCS Act) was signed into law by the President on February 7 2024. On commencement it will see the reconstitution of GSOC with a new name: Fiosrú Office of the Police Ombudsman. Fiosrú will have a new leadership structure with a Police Ombudsman, a Deputy Ombudsman and a Chief Executive Officer replacing the current three Commissioner model. Following an open recruitment