Gsoc did not have evidence of criminality at the time it launched a criminal investigation in relation to three gardaí, including a sergeant who took his own life, a judicial inquiry has concluded.

Frontline Garda supervisors are to consider taking legal action against the Government over its plans to introduce legislation denying gardaí the right to strike and access to a special pay review body.

Mid-ranking gardaí have launched a scathing attack on Tánaiste Frances Fitzgerald over her failure to attend their annual conference at a time of “crisis” in the force — and are set to have a cut at the Garda commissioner when she arrives later today.

The Government’s 12-18-month root and branch review of the gardaí will not be finalised until after Easter because further consultation with opposition parties is still needed.

Efforts to agree a contingency plan for the next stage of industrial action by gardaí are to continue over the weekend, with formal talks to resume on Monday or Tuesday.

Frontline gardaí predict the unprecedented violence on the streets of Dublin “will only get worse” and fear for the lives of unarmed gardaí responding to the shootings.

It was a second day of locked doors and sealed lips as Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael continued talks.

Mid-ranking gardaí will risk breaking the law by considering strike action in a serious ratcheting up of their industrial relations dispute.

A criminal has threatened a pregnant garda that he will “rape her and her unborn child”.

Garda Commissioner Nóirín O’Sullivan is “more interested” in the corporate image of the organisation than the lives of gardaí on the frontline, mid-ranking officers have said.

Government and Garda bosses face the prospect of losing up to 380,000 policing hours from January 1.

Middle-ranking gardaí have demanded the Government prioritise policing resources in the upcoming budget following an increase in crime, particularly in rural areas.

Ireland?s 13,000 garda? are entitled to be part of national pay talks and to strike, doing away with the need for bouts of "blue-flu".

A police authority will uncouple the close relationship between the justice minister and Garda commissioner, says Cormac O’Keeffe.

The planned police authority should include former gardaí, judges, and professionals including mediation and human resource experts, according to mid-ranking officers.