Greater Manchester's former chief fire officer has landed a new high profile post.
Peter O'Reilly will become Chief Officer of Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service from September 1st.
He now lives in Ireland and he began his career in the fire service there.
The Manchester Evening News reported in July that he was in the running for the job.
Despite being out of the fire service for four years, Mr O'Reilly has said it is "in his DNA".
Four months after the Manchester Arena attack in May 2017, he announced that after "much soul searching" he was to stand down as chief after less than three years in the £155,000-a-year post.
He had been damaged by a row over the fire service's response to the Arena attack.
Last month, giving evidence to the public inquiry into the Arena, he said: "I honestly regret and I'm sorry for the mistakes I made."
But the inquiry heard mistakes were made too by GMP and British Transport Police.
The bomb detonated at 10.31pm but the fire service did not arrive at the scene until just over two hours later.
A team of just 12 regular firefighters - the number that would be deployed to a house fire - was dispatched to the arena, arriving at the scene at 39 minutes past midnight, more than two hours after the blast.
Specialist crews, with better kit and more training in how to treat blast injuries, were kept back.
On the morning of September 7th 2017, he told councillors on the region’s fire committee : “I never thought that this time would come, but after much soul searching and discussions with my family I have decided to retire.
“It has been an absolute pleasure working for you, the Fire Authority, GMFRS colleagues and the people of Greater Manchester. Manchester will remain my home and Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service will always be close to my heart.”
He went on long term leave later that month and never returned to the job.
Calls for him to go had grown in the aftermath of the bombing.
At the time that he announced he was stepping down, Greater Manchester Mayor, Andy Burnham, said the chief had done much to shape the future of the fire service, however, particularly during his time in charge.
“I would thank him for his service to people, not only here, but in Northern Ireland where the majority of his career was served,” he said.
Mr O'Reilly said he would 'always regret' the delay in firefighters attending the aftermath.
He went on, in media interviews, to lay blame at the door of the police.
Mr O’Reilly was appointed chief fire officer for Greater Manchester in 2015 at the age of 48.
Previously Greater Manchester’s assistant county fire officer, he had served most of his career in his native Northern Ireland, rising up the ranks there.
He had described his appointment to the top of the Greater Manchester brigade as ‘the proudest day of my career’ when given the post in February 2015.
The Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (NIFRS) Board and Health Minister Robin Swann MLA have now announced Mr O'Reilly will be the organisation’s new Chief Fire & Rescue Officer.
Mr Swann said: “I welcome the appointment of Peter O’Reilly as the new Chief Fire & Rescue Officer for the Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service. With over 25 years of experience within the fire and rescue services, I have no doubt that he will provide the necessary leadership to guide NIFRS into the future.”
As Chief Fire & Rescue Officer, Mr O’Reilly will have a central role in ensuring continued success and providing additional stability as NIFRS emerges from the challenges presented by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Congratulating Mr O’Reilly on his appointment, Carmel McKinney OBE, Chair of the NIFRS Board, said: “Peter is a committed and dedicated firefighter who will bring a wealth of operational and strategic experience to the role.”
Mr O’Reilly, newly appointed Chief Fire & Rescue Officer, said: “Having started my firefighting career with NIFRS, I am extremely proud to lead it going forward and work with over 1,800 exceptional operational and wider supporting team members as we continue to deliver our prevention and emergency response service to protect our community.”
