Department admits defeat in aquatic centre row

THE Department of Sport has finally admitted defeat in a seven-year legal battle to claim €10.5 million worth of VAT from the former operators of the National Aquatic Centre.

The department had gone to the Supreme Court, against the Attorney General’s advice, to try and force Dublin Waterworld Ltd (DWL) to pay the VAT.

In May it lost this case. And it has now decided not to refer the bill to a new arbitration hearing which was among the recommendations made by the Supreme Court.