Tribunal to rule on Gogarty costs claim

The Planning Tribunal is due to rule this week on whether the State should pay €3.5m in costs to James Gogarty, the businessman whose corruption allegations were at the centre of the inquiry's early work.

Mr Gogarty, whose allegations of bribery against former government minister Ray Burke were vindicated by the tribunal, is one of 10 parties seeking costs from the inquiry this week.

Others include Foreign Affairs Minsiter Dermot Ahern, who is seeking €269,000 in relation to the evidence he gave about his efforts to ascertain the veracity of Mr Gogarty's claims.

The Sunday Business Post and journalist Frank Connolly, whose investigations prompted the establishment of the tribunal, are seeking €170,000 in costs, while financial Dermot Desmond is seeking €71,000, RTE is seeking €490,000 and the Independent Radio and Television Commission is seeking €134,000.