Supreme Court uphold Lawlor land ruling

The Supreme Court has upheld a ruling stopping the Mahon tribunal pursuing the home and lands of the late Fianna Fáil TD Liam Lawlor.

Mr Lawlor's widow Hazel Lawlor said a hill had been climbed as she left the court room.

The Mahon Tribunal has been chasing legal costs of €430,000 against the late Mr Lawlor who died in a car crash in Moscow 5 years ago.

Before the Fianna Fáil TDs death, the inquiry secured judgments against lands including his family home in Lucan which was held in joint ownership with his wife Hazel Lawlor.

Two years ago, the High Court ruled that his widow became the sole owner of the lands on her husband’s death.

The Mahon tribunal appealed the decision but today Mr Justice Joseph Finnegan upheld the finding of the High Court in a judgment unanimously approved by the Supreme Court.

This now stops the planning inquiry from pursuing the Lawlor family estate.