Up to the time of his recent retirement from the Garda Síochána (Ireland’s national police and security organisation) John O’Driscoll was assigned a lead role, at a national level, in tackling serious and organised crime, including where it involved an international dimension.
John has served as head of the bureau at the Garda Síochána’s national Bureau of criminal investigation and also at its national drug unit and at its national immigration bureau. At the rank of assistant commissioner, John had charge of all eight of the organisation’s crime bureaus established to tackle organised and serious crime pertaining to such issues as, drug trafficking, money laundering, cyber, human trafficking and organised immigration crime.
John O’Driscoll has been described by the US Treasury’s Office of foreign assets control as the driving force behind an initiative designed to dismantle and disrupt the activities of the Kinahan organised crime group, which has been ranked in the top tier of US and European law enforcement targets.
At an event held at City Hall, Dublin, in April 2022, organised by John O’Driscoll and attended by senior law enforcement officers from Ireland, Britain, Europe and the US, it was revealed that seven of the OCG’s key figures, most of whom are based in the UAE, and three companies linked to them, have been placed on a US Department of the Treasury sanctions list. The event also involved an announcement that the US authorities have offered a reward of up to $5 million to any person who can supply information that would significantly disrupt the OCG or lead to any of its leadership being convicted.
While holding the rank of assistant commissioner in the Garda Síochána, John was appointed as the National EMPACT representing Ireland. EMPACT is a permanent and key EU instrument for structured multidisciplinary cooperation to fight organised and serious crime driven by the EU Member States.
Between 2008 and 2015, John was Ireland’s representative on the Board of Management of FRONTEX (European Border & Coast Guard Agency). John was twice appointed by the Minister for Justice as a member of the Private Security Authority (PSA).
John holds an M.Sc in Drugs & Alcohol Policy from Trinity College, Dublin, a B.A. in Public Administration, (IPA, Dublin) and an Advanced Diploma in Asylum and Immigration Law (kings Inns, Dublin).
In 2022, John received the Irish Security Industry Association (ISIA) premier award which is given to an individual or group in recognition of a major contribution to the safety of Ireland and is people.
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