The deputy leader of the DUP has been criticised for using departmental funds to finance a failed DUP legal action. The Regional Development Minister Peter Robinson, brought the case and his department will now foot part of the legal costs.
The House of Lords rejected yesterday’s DUP challenge to the election of Mr Trimble and Mr Durkan. Three law lords opposed the DUP case while two supported it. The party said it was a "hair-breadth escape" for Mr Trimble and the British government.
A spokeswoman for Mr Robinson’s department confirmed to the BBC an as yet undetermined portion of the costs "will be shared by the department".
The DUP had lodged an appeal over the decision by the Northern Secretary, Dr Reid, not to call fresh Assembly elections last November when Mr Trimble and Mr Durkan were not appointed within the six-week period outlined by law.
Assembly elections will now not take place until next May.
The costs of the action may be as much as £10,000 Stg and the Northern Ireland Secretary John Reid has said it was regrettable that public money was used to fight what he called "narrow party political battles in the court room."
The SDLP called on the DUP to pay the full costs.