The three residents who took rock'n'roll to the Supreme Court were nowhere to be seen yesterday as the judges told U2 to play on. The residents could face more than 80,000 fans at the two U2 concerts as well as a hefty legal bill.
In court yesterday counsel for the Irish Rugby Football Union explained that due to "special circumstances" the union would not be taking a lenient attitude to costs.
There were "very, very serious considerations" involved in the case, although no one was prepared to say what those considerations were.
Outside the court a solicitor for the residents, Mr Paul Meagher, agreed that the bill for the Supreme Court hearings may be substantial. The residents, he said, were obviously disappointed at the decision. They had taken the case at considerable personal sacrifice and had been subjected to intimidating phonecalls.
"This case was not about U2 or any other band but the IRFU and how it uses the grounds," he said. One of the residents who complained is the wife of a former rugby international, Mr Brendan Mullen. Although he attended the two-day hearing, he did not turn up for the verdict. There was a mixture of relief and glee when the decision overturning the High Court ban was announced.
Promoters Oliver Barry and Denis Desmond immediately contacted U2 and its manager, Paul McGuinness. It seemed like it was easier for U2 to play in South Africa or Sarajevo than in their own home town, Denis Desmond said.
"But they are ecstatic with the decision. It's been a hell of a week but we got a very, very good result in the end."
No last-minute court action can stop the concerts going ahead, stressed a relieved Oliver Barry.
"We were always confident that they would go on, but the past week has been stressful for everybody. I've just spoken to Bono and he is absolutely thrilled, as are all the band," he said.
The case had generated huge interest abroad, but Mr Barry said that the controversy would not adversely affect Ireland as a venue for big names in the music business.
He thanked the local residents' associations, which he said had been very supportive of the IRFU and the concert promoters throughout the trial. The three residents who had tried to stop the concerts going ahead would be treated with the same consideration as all the other house-owners around Lansdowne Road. "I have walked the area with the residents. We will endeavour to ensure that any concerns that they have about their property will be dealt with. We will do everything we can for them," he said.
Not everyone in court was relieved at the Supreme Court decision, however. One man who did not want to be named because he worked in the Four Courts said he was bitterly disappointed at the decision. He lives on Shelbourne Road.
"This means that people will be urinating and excreting on my doorstep," he said. The concert, he added, would make his life hell.