Ian Bailey is likely to leave the taxpayer with a bill for millions of euro after losing his High Court case against the State.

The gardaí have a “cautionary approach” to social media and engage with it in a “playful” manner, according to research.

Middle-ranking gardaí are “convinced” the Government wants to cut force numbers “well below” the 13,000 minimum set by Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan.

The Labour Party has called for a complete overhaul of the Garda organisation and for the creation of an Ombudsman to help tackle Ireland's spiralling street crime problems.