Abuse victim ‘not chased’ for legal costs

THE State Claims Agency (SCA) has dismissed reports that it is aggressively pursuing legal costs of €500,000 from an abuse victim who lost her case for damages against the State.

The agency said it is precluded from pursuing costs because the case is still under appeal, and even if it was it would not be acting “aggressively”.

Ciarán Breen, head of claims and deputy director of the SCA, said Mr Justice de Valera made an order on March 23, putting a stay on the State’s €500,000 costs until the determination of Louise O’Keeffe’s Supreme Court appeal.