Ombudsman got almost 5,000 complaints against gardaí in 2010

The Garda Siochana Ombudsman Commission received 2,258 complaints last year, with almost 5,000 allegations against members of the force.

The most prominent type of complaint to GSOC concerned Abuse of Authority by gardaí, followed by Neglect of Duty.

One trend that has emerged in the three years of the existence of the Commission is that 50% of complainants had reached third-level education and were living in secure accommodation.

The vast majority of complaints came from Irish people which, GSOC said, is evidence that racism is not a driver of complaints.

Limerick and Waterford topped the board in terms of complaints made.

In the Dublin area, allegations were highest in the north of the city.