Children of gardaí have been approached on a football pitch and told their father is a “scumbag” for policing a protest after being identified via social media, a Garda conference has heard.

Mid-ranking gardaí are being harassed by online trolls who are circulating images of their family home, their partners, and even their children on social media.

The body representing rank-and-file gardaí has confirmed it is not inviting Justice Minister Alan Shatter to its annual conference at the end of April.

Two Joe Cole goals helped Chelsea into the FA Cup quarter-finals, after little Colchester had stunned Jose Mourinho’s millionaires by taking a shock early lead at Stamford Bridge today.

Southampton 3 Colchester United 2