Burke told to pay €10.5m legal bill

FORMER minister Ray Burke was dealt another huge financial blow yesterday after the Planning Tribunal rejected his application for the State to pay his €10.5 million legal bill.

Tribunal chairman, Judge Alan Mahon ruled against the former Fianna Fáil TD because of his repeated efforts to deliberately mislead the long-running inquiry.

However, the decision is likely to be challenged by Mr Burke as he is one of several parties who have already initiated legal proceedings in the High Court to test the constitutionality of the Tribunal’s powers to make them pay their own legal costs.