FUTURE criminal prosecutions could be jeopardised if police powers are given to a new garda reserve, a legal expert said yesterday.

PROBATION and garda representatives yesterday welcomed significant increases in budgets for young offenders.

THE garda overtime budget will jump by almost 40% to €83.5 million next year, according to the Estimates published yesterday.

The Garda operation to tackle gangland crime is to be extended nationwide and increased by nearly a third, it emerged today.