Cork gardaí's €50k policing bill for festivals and events
Cork singer Stephanie Rainey supporting The Academic at Live at the Marquee, earlier this year. The Garda policing bill for the entire series of concerts was €27,000.
Gardaí have been paid more than €50,000 to police 13 events in Cork this year.
The biggest bill so far in 2019 has been for policing at the Live at the Marquee concert series, for which the state has charged Aiken Promotions €27,000.
Figures released by An Garda Síochana through the Freedom of Information Act to The Echo show that the concert series was one of the most expensive events to be policed by gardaí this year.
The highest single event in Ireland was the Life Festival in Belvedere House in Mullingar, which cost €50,000 to police.
Among the other events which for the State have charged for policing services in Cork this year are: Kinsale Rugby Sevens (€6,700); the Ring of Beara cycle in May (€5,500); Techworks in Millstreet (€4,227), and Cork GAA event at Páirc Uí Rinn on March 10 (€2,100).
Policing at the Boiler Room disco in Clonakilty was also among the events or organisations which have been billed, with the State seeking €240 for policing duties there on February 15.
A garda spokesman said: "In general, the cost of policing duties performed by gardaí outside the event such as traffic control, beat patrols and other public policing duties which would be additional to those normally performed at the location, are not paid by the organisation hosting the event but fall to be paid from the Garda Vote (budget).
"However, at some specific larger events An Garda Siochana seeks a contribution to be made to An Garda Siochana is agreed by the local district officer with the organisers, taking into account the nature and size of the event."
According to An Garda Siochana: “Under Section 30 of An Garda Síochána Act 2005, An Garda Síochána may provide and charge for police services for events on private property, or in areas open to the public, if (a) it is in the public interest and consistent with the functions of An Garda Síochána to provide the services, and (b) the Commissioner is satisfied that the person has paid, or will pay, to the Commissioner the charges for the services.”
Events include football matches, agricultural shows, concerts, and race meetings. Off-duty gardaí carry out the duties.
