€350k to run anti-gang solicitor office

The cost of operating the office of the solicitor who led the charge against Limerick’s crime gangs topped €350,000 last year.

Figures released by the DPP show Michael Murray’s office cost €351,603 to run last year.

The costs include professional fee payments of €85,301 to Mr Murray, €172,132 in staff costs, and €85,640 in expenses.

State solicitor in Limerick since 1980, Mr Murray has prosecuted a large number of gang members and has a high profile outside court, where he has been vocal on the threat posed by gangs to Limerick’s social fabric.

Mr Murray is brother to former Chief Justice John Murray and architect Hugh Murray.

In 2011, it cost the DPP €6.28m to fund its network of 32 state solicitors’ offices outside Dublin to prosecute cases on behalf of the State.

The top earner last year was the state solicitor for Cork City, Barry Galvin.

It cost €496,720 to operate Mr Galvin’s office last year.

This included professional fee payments of €90,632 to Mr Galvin, staff costs of €278,873, and €118,152 in expenses.

In a Dáil response to Sinn Féin justice spokesman Jonathan O’Brien, Enda Kenny provided figures showing that payments to state solicitors had steadily declined since 2008.

In 2008, the DPP paid €6.53m to state solicitors, €6.3m in 2009, and €6.3m in 2010.