<ARTICLE> 5
<CIK> 0001123453
<NAME> THE O'GARA COMPANY

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1998
<CASH>                                       6,416,652
<SECURITIES>                                 6,563,054
<RECEIVABLES>                               48,779,257
<ALLOWANCES>                                   509,510
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<DEPRECIATION>                               7,129,220
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<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                       35,805,525
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<CGS>                                       95,290,444
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<INCOME-TAX>                                 5,015,853
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<EPS-BASIC>                                       1.19
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