Court ruling disappoints solicitor

The solicitor acting for the Irish editions of the Sun and the Mirror said she was disappointed that when the judge made a finding…

The solicitor acting for the Irish editions of the Sun and the Mirror said she was disappointed that when the judge made a finding Mr Bailey was a violent man against women and a murder suspect, that they had to pay him any costs.

Ms Karyn Woods, of McCann Fitzgerald, added: "But he only gave him half his costs because of the way he conducted himself during the trial. That is very good for the witnesses. He was looking for €260,000 in damages. €8,000 is a very small part of that."

Asked if her clients would be appealing the ruling on costs, she said that they were considering the position.

An appeal would be a full hearing in the High Court of all the evidence, which would be very expensive. However, her clients had fought the case on a matter of principle.

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Mr Hugh Hannigan, of McAleese and Co, representing the Sunday Independent, said the awarding of only part of the successful defendants' costs sent out the wrong message to unmeritorious claimants.