Tribunal to rule on Brennan/McGowan costs application

The Planning Tribunal is due to issue its ruling today in an application for costs from builders Tom Brennan and Joe McGowan.

The pair want the State to pay their legal bills arising from the tribunal, which are estimated at around €2.6m.

The two builders have argued that the costs were incurred due to the complex and time-consuming nature of the tribunal’s inquiries.

However, tribunal lawyers have argued that costs should be withheld due to the pair’s lack of co-operation, including concealing their offshore accounts for two years.

Brennan and McGowan were also found to have colluded with former government minister Ray Burke in providing false evidence.

Yesterday, tribunal chairman Judge Alan Mahon rejected Mr Burke’s application for the state to pay his costs, estimated at €10m.