Receiver’s fees criticised

A High Court judge has criticised the level and transparency of a further €450,000 fees sought by a receiver and his lawyers in the receivership following dissolution of the family partnership involving the adult children of deceased Judge Noel Ryan.

Stressing the courts’ approval of fees is “not a rubber-stamping exercise”, Mr Justice Michael White said hourly rates charged by Ken Fennell were “too high”, his supporting documents fell “a long way short” of the court’s expectations, the solicitors’ bill for legal fees was insufficiently detailed, and their instruction fee of €170,000 was too high.