Hate cleric Abu Qatada has been handed more than £500,000 of taxpayers’ money to fight attempts to kick him out of the country.
The extremist has been given the money in legal aid handouts to challenge his deportation to Jordan, where he faces terror charges.
The figure, disclosed to MPs, is far higher than previous Government estimates and adds to the total cost of the 10-year Qatada debacle which is already running at more than £3 million.
The public bill, which includes security measures to monitor cleric while out on bail, is set to rise again after it emerged he could be evicted from his new home just weeks after moving in.
Qatada moved to a larger, £450,000 house in north west London last week, at taxpayers’ expense, after complaining of media intrusion since an immigration court released him on bail last month.
But the landlady of his new home was shocked to discover who her new tenant was and is now looking to have him removed.
The Home Office is appealing a decision by the Special Immigration Appeals Commission that Qatada cannot be returned to Jordan because he cannot be guaranteed a fair trial.
Ministry of Justice figures show a total of £515,778 has been paid to Qatada in legal aid over the years – dwarfing previous estimates of around £390,000.
On top of that is the Home Office’s own £825,000 legal bill and the £850,000 costs of accommodating Qatada either in prison or in the community.
Around the clock surveillance is also costing the country £100,000 a week.
The landlady of his new home said: “This has left me very unhappy.
“I do not want this man in my house and we will be taking steps to remove him if I can.”
However, the vicar of a local church invited Qatada, an Islamic extremist, to join in the Christmas celebrations there next week.
