The ICCI Management and staff had the great pleasure of welcoming Garda Commissioner Nóirín O'Sullivan to the Centre on the afternoon of Wednesday, July 13th 2016. Accompanying the Commissioner was, Assistant Garda Commissioner Michael O’Sullivan, Chief Superintendent Karl Heller, Sgt Dr David Mc Inerney, Garda Darren Coventry-Howlett and Sgt Dave Delaney.
Sheikh Hussein Halawa officially welcomed the Garda Commissioner and her team to the centre, he thanked the Garda Siochana for their cooperation over the years, a cooperation he believes that can be built upon and grow in value, ‘this relationship we have with An Garda Siochana is one I speak about with pride wherever I travel; Nationally or Internationally’.
Commissioner O’Sullivan responded warmly to the Sheikh’s words: ‘I believe we can work further together to gather a better and greater understanding of each other and we can go from “strength to strength” and learn about our similarities rather than our differences’.
The CEO of the Islamic Cultural Centre, Dr Nooh Al Kaddo, while also thanking the Commissioner for her visit took time to mention his concerns for the recent refugees arriving in Ireland and spoke of the sensitivity that is needed when the security forces deal with them as they will have culturally been accustomed to the image that security forces are a threat rather than a service to the people.
The Garda Commissioner conveyed her hopes for increased trust by the people in the Garda Siochana, ‘we want people not to fear reporting a crime if they have been a victim, or if they suspect someone of committing crimes then not to fear contacting the Gardai as confidentiality will be maintained’. She went on to say ‘It is our job to build bridges with communities and build trust and confidence in the Garda Siochana, we have started recruitment again for new Garda members and we hope to see some of the Muslim community joining’.
Garda Commissioner Nóirín O'Sullivan accepted the CEO’s invitation to join staff and guests later in the year for the official ICCI 20 year anniversary celebration at the Islamic Cultural Centre of Ireland.
