The Government has spent more than €6m over the past seven years on the witness protection programme, figures show.

The rate of government spend on the State’s witness protection programme last year increased to €1.21m —double the spend of the preceding two years.

Lawyers for John Gilligan are today expected to continue their bid to shatter the credibility of witnesses on protection schemes being called to give evidence in his trial for the murder of Veronica Guerin.