Sligo council ordered to pick up most of bill for Lissadell case

Sligo County Council has been ordered to pay most of the costs arising from a multi-million euro legal action over a public rights of way row at the historic Lissadell Estate.

The bill for the local authority in Sligo is believed to be around €5m.

To put today's costs ruling in context, barristers Edward Walsh and Constance Cassidy paid €4m for Lisadell House in 2003.

The legal bill is estimated to be €7m for the court battle against Sligo County Council over public rights of way at the estate.

Last November - in a blow to the council - the Supreme Court ruled on appeal that the public are not entitled to use three of four routes across the lands.

Today on foot of that decision the court has ordered the local authority to pay three-quarters of the costs of the case, around €5m.

Lissadell's owners will have to pick up the rest of the bill.