the judge said: "This drug culture relies on people like you to carry out certain roles. Without people like you it does not work."

A father-of-one charged over a botched raid at a pub in Dublin on New Year’s Day needed 30 stitches to his head and suffered two fractured ribs, a court has heard.

The mother of tragic teenager Erin Gallagher has told how she found her 13-year-old daughter dead at their home — just hours after chatting and joking with her.

Garda Commissioner Nóirín O’Sullivan has said it is almost impossible to prevent determined gangland criminals from killing each other and, while it is “a matter of huge concern”, she believes gardaí are well-equipped to deal with the situation.

A 39-year-old man has been charged with arson in connection with a blaze which went out of control and gutted six terraced houses in Kildare.