GRA to urge Minister to reverse planned garda cuts

GRA president Damien Mc Carthy has said that the message to the Justice Minister later today about garda numbers will be “loud and clear”.

Minister Alan Shatter will address a garda conference for the first time today.

He will come under fire for plans to reduce numbers in the force from 14,400 to 13,000.

Mc Carthy claimed that criminals will be "laughing" if the number of gardaí is cut

"The only people that would be advocating that type of activity and action would be the criminal element of our society," he said.

"They will be laughing at the prospect of reduced numbers on our streets, and limited resources."