JUSTICE MINISTER Michael McDowell yesterday accused garda representatives of being “insolent and disrespectful” towards the Garda Commissioner in the ongoing row over the Garda Reserve.

THE representative body for garda chiefs is “not opposed” to the idea of a Garda Reserve body, according to a spokesman.

AN independent poll on behalf of garda unions has found eight out of 10 people believe the gardaí should be properly resourced before the Government introduces a reserve force.

GARDA representative bodies have welcomed proposals by Justice Minister Michael McDowell to change the rules under which suspects are interviewed in custody but insist they remain opposed to his plans to introduce a Garda reserve force.

SINCE the recent riots in Dublin, comparisons have been made with the May Day riots in 2004.

MY LATE grandfather was fond of the saying: “Expect the worst, and you won’t be disappointed.” He was a cheerful pessimist, and enjoyed the shock of the statement as much as he believed in the philosophy behind it.

RANK-AND-FILE gardaí yesterday compared the force’s preparations for Saturday’s protests with the May Day demonstrations in 2004.

RECORD profits of €1.7 billion last year were not enough for AIB. They want more. Unlike Oliver, they are not on the breadline, being the country’s biggest bank with a 23% increase in profits for the past 12 months.

THE Government’s Garda Reserve was thrown into disarray last night after gardaí refused to co-operate with it.

GARDAÍ will begin organising their opposition to plans for a Garda Reserve at the first of a series of protest meetings next week.

FAMILIES of gardaí who died in the line of duty united yesterday to help each other and future survivors.

Gardaí are setting up a group to support the families of members killed in the line of duty.

A 43-YEAR-OLD garda has been forced to quit the force because of a campaign of bullying and harassment.

A 43-year-old garda has quit the force because of a campaign of bullying and harassment, it emerged today.

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

OVER €2 million was paid out to people involved in car crashes with garda vehicles last year, according to new figures.

Police officers in New York shocked by the lack of protection for gardaí are offering to send over their spare anti-stab vests.

Gardaí are being forced to leave a West Cork town unpoliced at weekends due to a lack of resources, it was claimed today.

GARDA representatives yesterday demanded pepper sprays and anti-stab vests to combat violent assaults.

AUSTRALIAN cops were yesterday told to keep their hands off our boys in blue.

The Garda Representative Association (GRA) today hit out at Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and claimed the Government lacked understanding of the serious problems facing the force in terms of resources.

JAILED IRA garda killers are living like “kings in their own compounds”, gardaí said yesterday.

JUSTICE Minister Michael McDowell yesterday said there was no place for those with “a ballot box in one hand and a money-laundered bank draft in the other”.

The IRA killers of Det Garda Jerry McCabe are not in control of their prison and will serve out their full sentences, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said today.

Justice Minister Michael McDowell tonight ruled out moving the killers of Garda Jerry McCabe to a standard prison without special facilities.

Gardaí are afraid to come to work due to bullying and intimidation by management personnel, a conference heard today.

Cormac O’Keeffe

THE wife of slain Detective Garda Jerry McCabe will meet garda representatives at a special meeting to be held in Limerick next month.

A ROOKIE garda had a narrow escape when a gunman fired at him from point blank range only for the bullet to hit the garda’s torch and deflect into his hand.

GARDA chiefs yesterday said they had submitted a plan to the Government to roll out a new radio system to replace a system described by garda representatives as “obsolete”.

MORE THAN 17,000 people, mainly young men, have been assaulted outside late-night venues over the last two years, according to garda statistics.

ALMOST 200 alcohol-fuelled street crimes are being committed, on average, every day, garda figures show.

THREE people were brought to court yesterday in connection with three separate assaults on gardaí in Dublin.

Angry gardaí are to demand assurances from justice minister Michael McDowell today that the killers of a detective will not be released early.

REPRESENTATIVES of rank-and-file gardaí will have ongoing contact with senior management over the EU enlargement weekend amid fears over the safety of members coming face to face with protestors.