A leading security company is believed to have made a substantial salary offer to the head of the Garda in Dublin, Assistant Commissioner Tom King, who has announced his resignation.
Mr King's announcement on Thursday caused considerable surprise and some alarm in the management ranks of An Garda Siochna as he was seen as one of the most energetic and well-qualified senior officers.
During 15 months as Assistant Commissioner in charge of the Dublin Metropolitan Area, he had instigated high-profile policing strategies and had become a highly popular Garda leader.
However, sources close to Mr King said he had become frustrated in recent times about the limitations on further reforms in the city and the force as a whole.
One senior officer said Mr King had "possibly done as much as he could . . . he's quitting while he's on top".
The Assistant Commissioner will be entitled to a gratuity on retirement of a year-and-a-half's salary, in his case amounting to £76,745 and an index-linked pension of half his £51,163 annual salary.
Should he chose to accept the offer from the security company or another private sector company, he will be able to top this up with his new salary and other perks, potentially giving a six-figure gross income.
At 52, Mr King had eight years' potential service left but even if he had risen two further ranks to become Garda Commissioner he would still earn, at current levels, an income of £69,673. This is considerably less than the equivalent rank would pay in British police forces and some £45,000 less than the chief constable of the RUC.
Two months ago, the Buckley report on higher Civil Service pay levels also capped pay scales for Assistant Commissioners - and assistant Departmental secretaries - which caused considerable annoyance.
The relatively low levels of Garda pay prompted the Garda Commissioner, Mr Patrick Byrne, to express concern that more senior officers would follow Mr King into the private sector.
Mr King would not confirm yesterday if he had been made any specific offer and said he would be taking some time to reflect on his new direction. However, it is understood at least one major security firm in the State is considering a major restructuring of its operations and has approached the Assistant Commissioner.