THE Mahon Tribunal is paying out more than three-quarters of expenses and costs being claimed by third parties, according to bills settled so far with individuals and companies.

The Planning Tribunal is due to rule this week on whether the State should pay €3.5m in costs to James Gogarty, the businessman whose corruption allegations were at the centre of the inquiry's early work.

The Mahon Tribunal has rejected a claim by two of the directors of the failed Century Radio Oliver Barry and James Stafford for almost €1m in legal costs.