RTE Bill for Fr Reynolds Legal Team Was ˆ150,000

Irish Examiner
May 16, 2012

http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/rte-bill-for-fr-reynolds-legal-team-was-150000-551803.html


The Courts Service has revealed RTE's bill for defamed priest Fr Kevin Reynolds' legal team was more than €150,000.

Declan O'Neill, Taxing Master, ruled Fr Reynolds' solicitor Robert Dore be paid €80,000 for his work on the defamation case.

Mr Dore, and his firm Dore and Company, had originally sought an instructions fee of €275,000.

He had argued the case occupied his time between mid-June and mid-November, that it pervaded his office, and that the amount of time spent by his practice was enormous.

The two senior counsel – Jack Fitzgerald and Frank Callanan – had sought brief fees of €65,000 each but the figure was reduced to €26,000 each.

And junior Miriam Reilly sought €43,500, but will receive €20,000.

In his ruling, Mr O'Neill said he had carried out a full review of the nature and extent of the solicitor's work.

"Taking into account the value of the case, both in monetary and reputational terms for the plaintiff together with the matters already adverted to, I am satisfied that a fair and reasonable instructions fee as between party and party, is the sum of 80,000 euro," Mr O'Neill found.

"Accordingly I allow €26,000 as a disbursement in relation to each senior's brief, with €20,000 in respect of junior counsel."

Legal sources have indicated Mr Dore will appeal against the decision of the officer of the High Court responsible for assessing and measuring legal costs.