Garda boss: Force ‘devastated’ by cuts is ‘20 years behind’

Garda Commissioner Nóirín O’Sullivan said the force has been “devastated” by government austerity measures and was “20 years behind” in many areas, particularly in technology.

The police boss backed calls by senior garda managers for 800 recruits to be taken on every year — 200 more than currently.

Speaking at the annual conference of the Association of Garda Superintendents (AGS), the commissioner also said: