A third of all detectives are untrained, with some waiting up to 10 years before getting any instruction, according to a damning report by the Garda Inspectorate.

Sifting through the latest critical report of the Garda Síochána would leave even the staunchest supporter of the force grappling for good news.

Garda whistleblower Sergeant Maurice McCabe is expected to hand over documentation on up to 3,000 terminated penalty-point cases when he is interviewed by the Garda Ombudsman next week.

Garda numbers will have fallen to as low as 12,700 — some 300 below a minimum threshold set by Garda HQ — by the time 100 new recruits are on the streets next March, a staff association has warned.