Gardaí who worked the Harry Styles Slane gig paid over €200k

Hannah McNamara

Gardaí who worked at Harry Styles' gig at Slane Castle last month have been paid €207,000.

According to the Freedom of Information records published by Breakingnews.ie: "Gardaí have recouped more than €7.6 million from policing concert and sporting events and even the National Ploughing Championships this year."

The largest amount paid was €380,000 by Aiken Promotions for the country star Garth Brooks at Croke Park last September.

Followed by €349,000 by the Festival Republic for policing services at Electric Picnic during the same month.

Of the €7.6 million paid by companies for Garda assistance, one-sixth of it was paid by promoters MCD - the Irish concert promotion company that was established in 1980.

An information note said: “Members of An Garda Síochána have been made available for the performance of such duties and the state has charged for their services.

“This work is normally performed by members who would otherwise be off duty. It is generally the practice to charge organisations for the costs of duties performed by members inside the event.”

Gardaí have said that other public policing duties such as traffic control were paid from Garda funds.

“However, at some specific larger events, An Garda Síochána seeks a contribution from the promoters to overall policing costs,” the information note said.