Four Garda superintendents have been seconded to the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission to assist in the investigation of complaints against the force.
The four officers will work with the ombudsman commission for a two-year period.
However, while they will advise on, and help direct, all aspects of the commission's investigations the four officers will not be involved in any front-line investigative duties.
They will not take complaints from members of the public and they will not interview Garda members against whom complaints have been made.
Informed sources said the four officers would offer the ombudsman commission any advice on the workings of An Garda Siochana that might assist the commission's investigations.
The four officers are: Supt Ray McHugh, most recently of the Garda Press and Public Relations Office; Supt John Shanahan, formerly of Crime, Policy and Administration at Garda headquarters, Dublin; Supt Liam Delaney, formerly Portlaoise; Supt James Mulligan, formerly district officer in Templemore.
The four will begin work from May 9th when the ombudsman commission formally assumes the role of the Garda Síochána Complaints Board. They will report to the three-man commission through director of investigations Paul Buschini, who said the four officers brought "valuable skills and experience" to the ombudsman commission.
"We have already drawn staff from policing services in Australia, New Zealand, the UK as well as police ombudsman offices such as that of Nuala O'Loan in Northern Ireland," he said.
"These four superintendents will add to the overall mix of skills as we approach the date when we become fully operational in a few weeks' time."
