Bush NI visit cost taxpayer £300k

Mr Bush took part in a game of basketball during his NI visit

US President George Bush's one-day visit to Northern Ireland last month cost the taxpayer more than £300,000 (£306,000) in policing costs.

The information came to light in response to a parliamentary question tabled by the UUP's Sylvia Hermon.

During the visit, Mr Bush held talks with Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness at Stormont.

He also visited a Belfast school, where he took part in a basketball game with Protestant and Catholic children.

The children were brought together by a US-sponsored community project.

About 200 to 250 protesters took part in a demonstration against Mr Bush's visit in Belfast city centre.

Police had to close roads around Belfast City Hall for an hour until the protestors dispersed.

There was also a major security operation in and around Stormont, where normal business was suspended for the day, and a no flight exclusion zone over Belfast.