State spend of €500,000 on witness protection will soar once Jonathan Dowdall is freed from jail

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The State spent just over €500,000 on the Witness Security Programme (WSP) this year, but the cost is expected to soar next year when Jonathan Dowdall and his family are due to enter the programme.

Data released to the Sunday Independent shows the Department of Justice spent €600,000 on the WSP last year, up from €400,000 in 2021, €300,000 in 2020 and €200,000 in 2019.