Ireland’s true crime rate has been cast into doubt as a damning two-year investigation of the Garda found it does not record all criminal activity and wrongly classifies significant numbers of offences.

Acting Garda Commissioner Nóirín O’Sullivan said she wants to inaugurate a new era for whistleblowers where they are not “marginalised” and seen as “disloyal”.

The garda inspectorate has warned that young inexperienced gardaí are working in many areas of the country without proper supervision.

The Garda Inspectorate today insisted there was no need for a fully-armed police force despite the growing threat of gangland violence.

The Chief Inspector of the Garda Inspectorate has said that the force needs updated technology and better equipment if they’re to successfully tackle gangland crime.

THERE is little point putting gardaí before juries as they are often acquitted of their crimes, a member of an independent complaints body claimed yesterday.

A SPLIT has emerged between the two main garda representative associations towards the new Garda Inspectorate.