Skater faces hefty bill for court action

A 19-year-old ice skater has been left with a hefty legal bill after the High Court yesterday ruled she must pay the costs of her failed bid aimed at compelling the Ice Skating Association of Ireland to select her for international skating events.

In July 2015, Fianait Bligh sought mandatory orders compelling the association comply with representations allegedly made to her, if she fulfilled certain criteria, she would be selected to take part in International Skating Union events.

Mr Justice Paul Gilligan, dismissing her application, ruled that Ms Bligh had failed to make out a case entitling her to the mandatory orders sought.

Ms Bligh, originally from Dublin but who has been training in Scotland and Canada, claimed she was being discriminated against.

The association denied her claims and said, while Ms Bligh had been picked for the Irish development squad, that did not mean she was entitled to orders requiring she be selected for the national team.

The matter returned before the judge yesterday when David Dodd BL, for the association, said it was seeking an order for its legal costs against the skater.

Opposing the application, Colm Ó hOisin SC, for Ms Bligh, said no order should be made in relation to the costs of the high court proceedings which meant both sides would pay their own costs. Counsel said Ms Bligh was no longer continuing her High Court action against the association.

In his ruling, Mr Justice Gilligan said he had “no alternative”, given the circumstances of the matter, to award the costs of the application for the injunction in favour of the association.

The judge said there had to be “obvious sympathy” for Ms Bligh given her age. However, she made the decision, with the advice of lawyers, to go ahead with the court case and she had to have known to her she might not be successful and a costs order could be made against her.

The judge noted that Ms Bligh’s claims had been dismissed; the association had been vindicated both in the High Court and by Just Sport Ireland — the independent dispute resolution service for Irish sport. Mr Justice Gilligan urged the parties to move forward and “get on with the sport”.