A Dublin TD has said the Gardaí are being forced to tackle the capital’s gangland problem with “one hand tied behind their back”

Fianna Fáil’s Darragh O’Brien has said there needs to be an immediate escalation in the process of Garda recruitment.

He says Garda numbers in the Dublin region are down 20% on where they should be – due to Government neglect over recent years.

The Dublin politician says there also needs to be a direct focus on the gangs – but Gardaí must be properly resourced to do the job: “This isn’t something that has happened overnight, this has been five years of neglect, by the Government and we are only playing catch-up.

“That is being shown now, in what is happening on our streets, in our towns and in our city Of Dublin, that some people feel that they can just walk up and shoot someone dead on the street in broad daylight.”