Local Garda bosses say threats from dissidents to murder people who talk to the police must be met “head-on” and warned that the paramilitaries must not be allowed “take control”.

The lack of 24-hour garda stations in counties targeted by ATM robberies is concerning to senior officers.

The report on burials practices in mother and baby homes is to be referred to An Garda Síochána to see if any of the issues raised warrant criminal investigation.

There was a 11.7% overall increase in sexual offences, including a 17.4% increase in rape, and a 10.8% rise in non-aggravated sexual assault.

One in five superintendents are being investigated by the garda ombudsman (GSOC), with many of the inquiries taking up to five years to complete.

Frontline Garda bosses believe that Brexit will result in a “massive draw” on resources back to the border, with major implications for Garda divisions and national units.

A Government-backed blueprint for Garda reform is on hold after local garda management launched their first ever industrial action.

LATEST: A Fianna Fáil Councillor for Sligo Town has said members of the Garda Representative Association had "no other choice" than to engage in action over the serious health and safety issues at their station.

Away from the harrowing personal stories, the audit shows the reasons why many children are removed from their home - the dangers posed to their health and wellbeing either because of their own behaviour or, more likely, those around them.

Senior officers do not believe frontline gardaí deliberately falsified breath test numbers and that the problem stemmed from members being overworked, together with a lack of proper equipment and training.

Consultants working on one of the two Grace foster abuse scandal reports wanted €2,200 a day to do their work, the Irish Examiner can reveal.

Garda Commissioner Nóirín O’Sullivan said the force has been “devastated” by government austerity measures and was “20 years behind” in many areas, particularly in technology.

Senior gardaí have asked the chairman of the Dáil to stop TDs from making "adverse" comments and "damaging allegations" in the chamber about members of the force.

A US spy drone has flown through UK airspace for the first time, the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) said.

The two garda whistle-blowers had “no basis” for continuing to trawl Garda computer data and disclosing it outside the force once they had reported their allegations of malpractice, the State’s data watchdog has said.

Claims by the Garda Ombudsman that it has been denied access to information by gardaí in serious investigations includes their inquiry into a complaint from Clare Daly TD, the Irish Examiner understands.

Senior gardaí are calling for vacant posts to be filled to avoid "serious gaps" in service delivery.

The European Commission is proposing that it be allowed recommend to a member state that it seek financial assistance.

Gardaí found guilty of any wrongdoing in an alleged rape remarks controversy face the gravest of consequences, rank-and-file leaders have warned.

DISSIDENT Republicans pose a “real threat” to police forces and innocent bystanders, according to Garda Commissioner Fachtna Murphy.

JUSTICE Minister Dermot Ahern said there had to be “tighter controls” over access to information about jury members to ensure it didn’t fall into the hands of criminals.

GARDA bosses want controversial gangland legislation to be expanded so that other serious crimes can be heard in the non-jury Special Criminal Court.

GARDA retirements are running at twice the projected rate, new figures suggest.

SENIOR gardaí are warning it will be “extremely difficult” to manage the force if the upsurge in retirements of superintendents continues.

GARDA Commissioner Fachtna Murphy yesterday told superintendents he was in discussions with the Department of Justice to ensure vacancies in their rank were filled as quickly as possible.

THE Garda Síochána is facing a growing management crisis with 12 superintendents due to take voluntary retirement this year and up to 100 others eligible for retirement.

ASHGROVE Meadows is about to provide something different for the Bandon area.

THE Garda overtime budget is due to run out in August and the Government has ruled out allocating any more money, a Garda conference was told yesterday.

THE head of the Garda Inspectorate yesterday said superintendents had an “unacceptable” amount of bureaucracy to deal with.

Garda Commissioner Noel Conroy today warned his rank and file to fully co-operate with the Garda Ombudsman or face being arrested.

SENIOR gardaí have strongly backed antisocial behaviour orders, Asbos, saying there was a “definite need” for them.

THE garda management system is “overloaded”, senior officers warned yesterday.

JUSTICE MINISTER Michael McDowell received a major boost yesterday after garda superintendents strongly endorsed the garda reserve.

THERE will be an increased Garda presence on the streets to deal with public order offences and drink-driving, the Association of Garda Superintendents (AGS) heard last night.

Senior gardaí tonight broke their silence to reject stinging criticism arising from the Morris Tribunal report into alleged Garda corruption in Donegal.

GARDA Superintendents have asked the Justice Minister to set up as a matter of urgency a planned independent inspectorate for the force.