Lawlor fails in High Court action

Liam Lawlor has failed to convince the High Court that the latest proceedings, which could see him return to prison, are improper and should be stopped.

The High Court has cleared the way for legal action against Liam Lawlor to proceed.

After a day and a half of arguments, Mr Justice Thomas Smith rejected the Dublin West TD's claim that the High Court no longer has the power to jail him.

Mr Justice Smith said that while he appreciated the submissions of Deputy Lawlor's counsel, he had been persuaded by counsel for the tribunal, Frank Clark.

He said the case as it stood yesterday lunchtime before all this arose should proceed at once.

Deputy Lawlor immediately asked for leave to appeal the ruling to the Supreme Court, which Mr Justice Smith said must be done today. If that is not possible, he added, it must be done first thing in the morning.