Andrew McGovern, aged 38, of School Lane, Rathowen, Co. Westmeath, who was responsible for the "sinister" and "blatantly false" messages and posts on Twitter, now called X, was sentenced by Judge Bernadette Owens at Mullingar District Court on Thursday.

Helen McEntee said the Government has increased the maximum sentence for attacks on officers from seven years to 12 because of the surge in assaults.

AGSI general secretary Antoinette Cunningham said communities need to work with gardaí for the greater good

The issue of costs will argued before the court later this month