"End of an era" for Laois Offaly Gardai as Chief Superintendent retires

Today (Thursday) represented the "end of an era" for Gardai in Laois Offaly, with the retirement of the top Garda in the local division, John Scanlan.

Chief Superintendent Scanlan is retiring after after 41 years of service to the force.

Over the last 11 years he has been the Chief Superintendent for Laois Offaly and, more recently, Kildare.

"Our division has developed for the better under his guidance and, as he always states, Laois and Offaly have some of the safest communities to live in," read a tribute posted on the Garda Síochána Laois Offaly Facebook page this morning.

"We thank you John for your support and leadership. We have a feeling we will be seeing you again at events."

Garda Commissioner Drew Harris led tributes to Chief Superintendent Scanlan at his retirement function in The Killeshin Hotel, Portlaoise, earlier this week.

The departing chief superintendent is a native of Limerick, but, speaking to Midlands 103, said he was happy to have settled for good in the Midlands region.

"My best tribute that I can pay to this place is that I came here to live, when I was assigned here, and, as I retire, I have no intention of leaving.

"If there is any endorsement I can offer to how decent and safe a place the Midlands is to live in, (it's that) I've made my home here and it's going to be where I live out the rest of my days, hopefully.

"I want to thank the people of Laois and Offaly and Kildare for the support I have been given," he said.