Clare Gardaí have shared in an overtime bonanza, arising out of the stay here by US President Donald Trump.
Gardaí here received nearly €1.4 million in overtime payments in the third quarter of the year, which included the duration of the two day visit.
It’s almost twice as much as they had received in overtime payments in the first six months of the year.
Donald Trump’s June visit to Doonbeg came at the start of the three month period covered by these Garda figures.
The huge security operation, involving over 3,800 Gardaí or around 27% of the force, involved overtime payments to Gardaí totalling just under €7.5 million.
The figures show how local officers benefitted, with overtime payments to Clare Gardaí of the order of €1.38m between June to September, a period of time which also covers the visit of Vice President Mike Pence to the same village.
By contrast, in the second quarter, overtime payments for local Gardaí stood at €476,000 and it was €309,000 for the first three months of the year.
Gardaí based in Mayo, Kerry and Cork City also saw big spikes in their overtime payments connected with the visits, like their Clare colleagues.
At least three Gardáí received over €10,000 in overtime payments arising out of the Trump security operation.
