John Gormley, who retired in April 2025 after 33 years in the Prison Service, has agreed to take over at Les Nicolles for an initial period of six months, and will start full-time in the next few days.
‘John has a wealth of experience in prison management from HM Prison & Probation Service and will be bringing that knowledge into Guernsey Prison to build on the hard work that has been taking place,’ said Home Affairs president Deputy Marc Leadbeater.
‘He has already spent time meeting the team and familiarising himself with the facilities, and the committee is looking forward to working with him as he takes on the role.’
Deputy governor Tracey Mahy has been leading the prison since John De Carteret stepped down six months ago while an investigation took place into allegations about his conduct.
States chief executive Boley Smillie announced in August that Mr De Carteret had retired after more than six years in the role.
Ms Mahy will continue in her substantive role and work alongside Mr Gormley.
He arrives at Les Nicolles at a time when prison officers have restored their previous levels of goodwill, after a period in which they were working to rule, but the underlying causes of their dissatisfaction are yet to be fully addressed.
Mr Gormley said on social media that he had enjoyed the past 18 months of retirement, travelling widely and enjoying a different pace of life, but that the opportunity to return to prison leadership was ‘simply too exciting to turn down’ when he became aware that Guernsey was recruiting nationally.
‘I have always enjoyed a challenge,’ he said.
‘I am genuinely looking forward to getting back to work, meeting the staff, prisoners and partners, and becoming part of the wider Guernsey community.
‘There is something really exciting about starting again in a new place, with new people and new challenges, and so retirement is going on hold for a little while.’
Mr Gormley was awarded an OBE in the most recent New Year’s Honours List.
His career before then culminated in a three-year period as governor at The Mount, a Category C men’s prison located on the outskirts of Bovingdon village in Hertfordshire.
He also holds an MSt in Criminology, Penology and Management from the University of Cambridge.