Court orders John Waters to pay €150,000 legal costs for journalist Kitty Holland

It comes only days after Judge John O’Connor in the Circuit Civil Court ordered Waters to pay Holland €35,000 in damages for defamation of character

John Waters (pictured) described in court as a strident pro-lifer, denied in a full defence to Holland’s claim that he had defamed her or called her a liar, and stated he had nothing to do with the political party publishing his speech online. File photo: Collins Courts

Author and columnist John Waters, who was held to have defamed Irish Times journalist Kitty Holland arising out of the untimely death of Savita Halappanavar, has been ordered to pay Holland’s full legal costs estimated to top €150,000. 

The life-changing legal bill, following a five-day trial involving senior counsel Andrew Walker, barrister Shane English and Ciaron Leavy of Lavelle Partners Solicitors, hits Waters only days after Judge John O’Connor in the Circuit Civil Court ordered him to pay Holland €35,000 in damages for defamation of character.