Fifth of gardaí 'injured on duty in previous five years'
A fifth of all gardaí have reportedly been injured in the line of duty in the last five years.
According to figures from the Department of Justice seen by The Times, more than 580 officers were injured last year, while two gardaí - Adrian Donohoe and Tony Golden - have been killed while on duty in Louth in the past three years.
Speaking following the announcement of a new cross-border taskforce to tackle crime, Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald says gardaí face a dangerous job.
"Tragically, we've had deaths with gardaí who are doing their duty here," she said.
"It's a very stark reminder that the work that the police and the PSNI do, An Garda Síochána and the PSNI - they are dealing with dangerous people, let us never forget that.
"When you're dealing with the legacy issues of paramilitarism and terrorism in this country, you are dealing with dangerous people."
The new joint task force tackling cross-border organised and paramilitary crime will have its first meeting next month.
It will include members of the Garda, Police Service of Northern Ireland, Revenue Commissioners and HM Revenue and Customs.
The Fresh Start deal agreed between the political parties and Irish and British Governments in Belfast last month envisaged its establishment.
Details were announced at a meeting of Stormont, Irish and British ministers in Dublin.
First Minister Peter Robinson said: “Today marks an important milestone of the Fresh Start Agreement, with the Northern Ireland Executive moving forward with new justice structures.”
Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness said: “Criminality is a scourge on our communities, north and south, and we must be both united and relentless in our pursuit of these criminals.”
The Fresh Start Agreement outlines plans that would bring together law enforcement agencies north and south of the border.
The announcement was also attended by Stormont justice minister David Ford and Dublin justice minister Frances Fitzgerald.
