O’Donnells liable for legal costs

Retired solicitor Brian O’Donnell and his wife Dr Mary Patricia are personally liable for the legal costs of their failed bid to have their bankruptcy annulled, the High Court ruled.

It means the costs cannot be drawn from the assets of their bankrupt estate but they themselves will have to bear the bill for their application which Bank of Ireland (BoI) opposed. Mr O’Donnell represented himself and his wife during the annulment application.

Last month, Ms Justice Caroline Costello found that the O’Donnells had not advanced any new evidence as a basis for an annulment of the 2013 bankruptcy obtained against them by BoI which is owed €71.5m.