Supreme Court rules owner liable for €735k costs of his building firm's dismissed action over works to Dublin pub

The Supreme Court has ruled that the effective owner of a building company is personally liable for the €735,000 costs of his firm’s dismissed action over works to a Co. Dublin bar co-owned by well-known publican Charlie Chawke.

The jurisdiction to make such an "exceptional" costs order exists, including for reasons to prevent persons litigating on a "consequence free-basis", Ms Justice Iseult O'Malley said when giving the five-judge court's unanimous judgment.