State spends over €6m on witness protection

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

The programme was established by the State in the wake of the murder of journalist, Veronica Guerin 20 years ago in 1996.

A state witness against four members of the John Gilligan drugs gang, Charlie Bowden, was the first to be admitted to the programme on his release from prison.