GRA launches stinging attack on McDowell

The Garda Representative Association has launched a blistering attack on the Justice Minister ahead of its annual conference this month.

It said it is expecting "bland announcements" from Michael McDowell in a bid to blunt any criticism of his mismanagement of the force.

But GRA president Dermot O'Donnell said rank and file gardaí will not be deflected from pursuing their demands for proper resources, secure radios, anti-stab vests and a new garda station in Dunmanway, Co Cork.

Mr O'Donnell said record levels of funding are being swallowed up by mismanagement of the force with too few gardaí to investigate crime.

He said officers in some regions are going without basic protection - such as bullet proof vests and pepper spray - afforded to every other European police force.

The GRA chief said Michael McDowell's answer is a reserve force who will work for nothing, and which would be laughable if the situation was not so fraught with danger.