State to spend €1m protecting whistle-blowers

THE State will spend over €1 million this year safeguarding individuals on the heavily criticised garda witness protection programme.

An Garda Siochána launched a review of the Witness Security Programme, as it is formally known, in 2003 following scathing criticism by the Court of Criminal Appeal.

The review has yet to be completed. However, in a written response to a parliamentary question tabled by Fianna Fáil TD John Curran, Justice Minister Michael McDowell said €1.132m had been allocated for the scheme this year.