Children's charities: Specialised Garda units must be funded to prosecute heinous cybercrimes

The CARI Foundation said delays in the units will delay future investigations, arrests and criminal prosecutions

Two pilot regional centres have been operating – in Ballincollig, Co Cork and New Ross, Co Wexford – but six such centres were originally envisaged.

Children's charities say it is “paramount” that the necessary resources are given to specialist Garda units tasked with examining digital devices for child abuse imagery.

It follows reports in the Irish Examiner that Garda HQ is waiting more than a year and a half for funding to set up long-planned regional cybercrime units.