Gardaí renew call for DNA database

GARDA staff associations have made fresh demands for the establishment of a DNA database — almost 10 years since it was first promised by government.

Ireland is now the only country in the European Union, apart from Malta, which does not have a DNA database, which is widely used in criminal investigations and missing persons cases.

The Government’s commitment to the database hangs in the balance pending the outcome of cabinet discussions on the budget estimates, which will begin next month.