Cooper-Flynn not liable for costs, High Court told

Legal counsel for Beverly Cooper-Flynn has told the High Court that she should not have to pay costs in her failed libel case, as RTE failed to prove that she induced farmer James Howard to evade tax.

Gareth Cooney SC said the largest portion of time of the case was taken up on this point and therefore RTE must pay.

RTE was aware at the time of its 1998 broadcast that Patricia Roche sold the policy to Mr Howard, but this was never broadcast, he added.

However, counsel for RTE, Kevin Feeney, said that Ms Cooper-Flynn did not suffer material damage from the 1998 broadcast.

Therefore, he said, RTE is not liable for costs in the trial. A decision is expected sometime this afternoon.