Cavan cybercrime unit hits glitch

Taskforce to be based in Louth instead of Bailieborough

The divisional cybercrime unit, once promised for Cavan, will now be based in Louth instead.

Retiring Garda Commissioner Drew Harris had previously confirmed that the new unit would be positioned in Bailieborough once the new Garda Headquarters there was complete. However, the building project, which involves the €19M redevelopment of the former National Irish Bank, has been plagued by delays (see page 6 for update).

During his visit to Cavan last week, Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan was asked about the decision not to locate the cybercrime unit in this county. While quickly emphasising that the area is “rapidly developing”, he declined to comment further on the specifics.

“It’s not for me to decide operationally where An Garda Síochána should base their specialist units - that’s a matter for the Commissioner,” he said. “I’ve had a great visit here in Cavan; there’s a lot of excellent work going on. I want to commend everyone involved. But ultimately, the Commissioner will determine where to locate units like the cybercrime division.”

Chief Superintendent Alan McGovern, who oversees the Cavan-Monaghan-Louth division, meanwhile defended the decision, highlighting that the new unit will still serve the entire region.

“It will continue to serve Cavan and Monaghan as well,” he stressed, highlighting that Bailieborough will be the main Crime Hub for the division and will handle investigations across all crime types, including fraud. “We’ve also established a small team here in Cavan that focuses specifically on triaging and investigating fraud offences. This reflects the fact that we’re seeing a steady increase in fraud-related incidents, particularly in areas like money laundering.”

Chief Supt McGovern emphasised the need for gardaí to stay ahead of rapidly evolving technology.

“We’re living in an increasingly digital world - and unfortunately, criminals are adapting just as quickly. We have to make sure our members are trained and equipped to meet that threat, to be digitally enabled and ready to respond. Policing today is very different from what it was even a few years ago.”

He added that the new Bailieborough station will serve both as a divisional crime hub and a community engagement centre, with resources spread between Bailieborough and Cavan Town.

“Cavan remains a key station in its own right, and of course, we still have a number of smaller stations throughout the county that continue to serve their communities,” he said.