A former UK senior police officer and serious complaints investigator has been appointed as director of investigations by the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission.
The appointment of Paul Buschini, who served at detective superintendent rank with Lancashire Constabulary, was announced last night along with six other senior appointments.
A statement from the commission said as well as his role in the investigation of serious crime, Mr Buschini was also formerly attached to the Lancashire Constabulary's professional standards department.
He has played a lead role in death-in-custody investigations on behalf of the Independent Police Complaints Commission for England and Wales. Most recently, he has served as a police adviser to the government of Trinidad and Tobago.
Former manager of the Competition Authority's cartel division Ray Leonard has been appointed deputy director of investigations. He worked on the Ansbacher inquiry during his time with Revenue's investigation branch.
A number of Ombudsman Commission investigative posts, including senior investigators, investigators and assistant investigators, are being filled at present with successful candidates due to be appointed in the next fortnight.
The current head of the Garda Complaints Board, which will be replaced by the Ombudsman Commission, has been appointed as the commission's director of administration.
Anthony Duggan has been in his current role since 2004. Before that he worked as an investigator for Revenue for four years. He worked for Customs and Excise between 1979 and 2000.
Former Health and Safety Authority legal adviser Michael O'Neill is the Ombudsman Commission's new head of legal affairs. He was called to the Bar in 1995 and was an assistant to the Irish judge at the European Court of Justice from 1998 to 2000.
Former Prime Time producer and reporter Kieran Fitzgerald has been appointed head of communications and research. Since 2002 he has worked as a lobbyist and consultant specialising in environmental and media issues.
The Ombudsman Commission has also announced the appointed of former Garda chief superintendent John O'Brien as a "senior Garda consultant". He retired from the force two weeks ago. He is a former head of the Garda Technical Bureau and the Garda's Europol National Unit.
The Ombudsman Commission said yesterday it would become operational "next year". However, it was unclear exactly when this would happen.
Training of staff is due to take place in the University of Portsmouth from February to April, meaning operational capacity will not be achieved until after this is completed. Minister for Justice Michael McDowell has previously said the Ombudsman Commission would be operational "early" next year.
The Garda Complaints Board will continue to receive complaints until the Ombudsman Commission is ready to take over from it. A headquarters for the new agency has been identified in central Dublin. It will also have officers in Roscrea and Longford.
Garda Ombudsman Commission: new members
The chairman of the three-person commission is Mr Justice Kevin Haugh. The other commissioners are Carmel Foley, former director of consumer affairs, and Conor Brady, former editor of The Irish Times.
