Gardaí logged data on their computer system — ironically named Pulse — such as “sightings” of known homicide victims.

The findings came to light as part of the 2003-16 data review ordered by the Garda Commissioner following criticism of homicide figures.

Informed sources say the embarrassing revelations raise questions over the integrity of gardaí intelligence and indicate that the scale of erroneous data may be much greater than previously thought.