Two Socialist Party politicians jailed for a month last year arising from a protest over bin charges had their legal bills reduced by a Taxing Master of the High Court today.
Dublin West TD Mr Joe Higgins and Councillor Clare Daly had objected before Taxing Master Charles Moran to a legal bill for €33,280 served on them by Fingal County Council.
The bill arose from proceedings initiated by the Council before the High Court last September which resulted in the politicians being jailed for breaching an injunction preventing the obstruction of refuse collections.
In his reserved judgment yesterday, Taxing Master Moran cut the bill to €24,580, to which will be added a further €1,800 stamp duty.
The Taxing Master reduced a solicitor's instruction fee from €12,500 to €9,000. A brief fee for senior counsel was cut from €7,500 to €6,000 while a brief fee for junior counsel was reduced to €4,000 from €5,000. There were smaller changes under other headings.
Following yesterday's ruling, Mr Higgins said he was unhappy about the fees allowed to counsel. He has the option of appealing the decision back to the Taxing Master by way of objections and, if still
dissatisfied, may bring a further appeal to the High Court.