Mick Clifford: Something unprecedented is going on with the gardaí in Limerick

At a time when Garda morale is very low, the issue of four gardaí suspended from the force for over three years without being charged gives rise to questions around proportionality

In the Four Courts, four gardaí suspended for over three years hope to have the suspensions declared illegal.

The four gardaí sat across a bench, directly behind their legal representatives. On another bench there were more gardaí, all in civilian clothes, there to offer support.

It was a strange sight; this many members of An Garda Síochána attending court in a private capacity.