Supermac's owner fails to block legal costs protection for environmental group

Friends of the Irish Environment (FIE) should benefit from a protective costs order, which limits the legal costs a litigant is liable for in a court action, judge says

Supermac's boss Pat McDonagh first lodged plans for service station, located off the M18 at Kilbreckan, Doora, over a decade ago. File picture

Supermac’s owner Pat McDonagh has failed in an attempt to block an environmental advocacy group from obtaining legal costs protection in its High Court challenge to an aspect of the businessman’s motorway service station development outside Ennis, Co Clare.

Mr Justice David Holland on Thursday said Friends of the Irish Environment (FIE) should benefit from a protective costs order, which limits the legal costs a litigant is liable for in a court action. Litigants who take certain cases relating to environmental issues can qualify for the order.