MIDDLE-RANKING MEMBERS of An Garda Síochána are calling for people who share pictures of them online with the aim of identifying them to be criminally sanctioned.

A motion on the subject will be discussed at the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors’ annual conference, which begins in Killarney, Co Kerry today.

It directs the national executive to call on Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald to “introduce a criminal offence of photographing or otherwise capturing an image, moving or otherwise, of a member of An Garda Síochána in the exercise of their duty without the member’s consent and to publish or otherwise post this image on any media with intent to identify this member”.

A separate motion calls for the Commissioner to adequately protect and support members and their families who are being subjected to social media harassment and other forms of intimidation as a result of doing their job.

We want to know: Do you think people who identify gardaí on social media should be prosecuted?

We’ll have more from the conference in Killarney over the next three days. Follow @michellehtweet for updates.