A former detective has said the new Special Crime Taskforce will take resources away from other areas of the Gardaí.

Brian Sherry said the measures announced by the Tánaiste and Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald yesterday are a case of “moving Peter to rob Paul”.

The taskforce of 50 Gardaí will be charged with tackling gangland crime after a spate of recent shootings.

Retired Detective Inspector Brian Sherry has warned it will take resources away from other units in An Garda Síochána.

“These 50 gardaí are being drawn from the resources that are already there,” said Sherry.

“So these gardaí are going to be taken from specialist units, which are already half-starved of manpower and probably uniform resources as well where are also starved of resources. So, in reality you are moving Peter to rob Paul.”

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