TDs awarded 50% of costs in unsuccessful challenge over ‘super junior’ ministers

Proceedings  gave rise to 'one of the rare and exceptional circumstances' where unsuccessful litigants should be awarded a proportion of their legal costs

High Court president Judge David Barniville, ruling with Judge Siobhán Phelan and Judge Conleth Bradley, said the State should pay 50% of the TDs’ legal costs incurred in their cases.

Two TDs raised issues of public and constitutional importance in their unsuccessful legal challenge to the attendance of “super junior” ministers at Government meetings, and should be awarded half of their legal costs incurred in the actions, the High Court has ruled.

The three-judge court said proceedings brought by Sinn Féin’s Patrick ‘Pa’ Daly and Paul Murphy of People Before Profit–Solidarity gave rise to “one of the rare and exceptional circumstances” where unsuccessful litigants should be awarded a proportion of their legal costs.