Viewers across Ireland were gripped by Virgin Media's new documentary show The Guards: Inside the K which looks at gardai working in the K District in Dublin.
The K District, which makes up Finglas, Blanchardstown and Cabra, covers a population of around 175,000.
Last night's episode gave an insight to the escalating violence that has been terrorising the communities, with most of it due to gangs in the area.
The public were quick to praise the work and bravery of gardai on the frontline, with many shocked at the way they were spoken to while working.
Here's how the public reacted:
"Can’t believe he way these people speak to the Garda, if either of my 2 kids spoke to a Garda or anyone like that it would be me they’d be afraid of."
"Very brave of the Garda to go on camera as the Neanderthals will be watching thinking they’re great & getting their dart boards ready. I know hand shaking is out at the moment, but give a Garda a nod & a smile tomorrow"
" The new #InsideTheK show on @VirginMedia_One is brilliant. Best thing on irish TV for years. Also I full on fancy about 5 of the gardaí"
" People saying #InsideTheK is “portraying Blanchardstown badly” .... emm no I think you’ll find it’s the scum breaking the law that are doing that! And I’m born & bred here! So much respect for Gardai"
" It's about time a programme like #InsideTheK was shown. What the Guards have to deal with is shocking. Nothing but the utmost respect for them."
"Gardai do not get appreciated or respected enough for anything they do! Tonight’s show proved that and I reckon it barely scratched the surface of what they have to put up with."
There were also moments that caught the emotion of many, particularly a scene where a mother's dead son lay only feet away from her.
" That was a tough watch....that poor mothers scream (and she is a mother at the end of the day) will haunt me for a while."
"The primal howl of the mum whose son lay dead feet away from her, that’s a sound I hope every young person in Ireland hears and understands that THAT is what they do to their mothers when they get caught up stuff like that. Powerful stuff, very raw"
"Keep in mind the Gardai are the one who knock at your door to say your loved one has been in an accident, they are also the ones who arrive at the scene of an accident and witness this, they also are called when a #Suicide happens - they do so much more than gangland"
Viewers have also said that they hope the positive sides of the community are shown in upcoming episodes, and the positive interactions that the locals have with gardai.
" I will say that #InsideTheK shows a certain challenging role for @gardainfo . But it could be positive if it showed the positive integrative work being done in the community by hard working individuals. #communitypolicing"
" I hope throughout series they also show the majority of the ordinary folk who live #InsideTheK and their more normal interactions with the Guards. Community work, ordinary families receiving bad news. Has to be more balanced."
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