‘Greatest gravy train in Irish history’ costs €85m in legal fees

THE Irish tribunal system has been described as the “greatest gravy train in Irish history” after it was revealed that two individual barristers were paid over €8.5 million each out of a total €85m paid over to lawyers.

Under fire at a Public Accounts Committee (PAC) hearing, the country’s top civil servant conceded the structure of the tribunal systems was “flawed”.

Dermot McCarthy, secretary general at the Department of the Taoiseach, also admitted plans to reduce lawyer fees were abandoned because of fears that several barristers would walk.