Latest: Rank and file Gardaí are rejecting claims by the Justice Minister that the force is adequately resourced.

Gardaí have suffered so much from pay cuts some are sleeping in cars because they cannot afford to drive home, the annual conference for rank-and-file members has heard.

PRISON sentences of 12 years should be handed out to those convicted of “gratuitous assaults” on gardaí, according to the organisation which represents 11,600 frontline members of the force.