Garda drop-in clinics idea ‘an insult’

Proposed drop-in clinics to replace closed Garda stations are akin to saying to criminals “please make a date with crime”, Garda representatives have said.

The relationship between gardaí and the Government is set to become even more strained after one association warned it might take industrial action if the Taoiseach carried out his threat to bring in further payroll cuts by legislation.

The Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors hit out at Enda Kenny for “shaking a big stick” at hard-pressed gardaí and said members would make their feelings known “very vociferously”.