AMID the horror this week at the size of the payout to the lawyers from the Tribunal of Inquiry into the Beef Industry, one small decision by the Taxing Master, James Flynn, got little notice. Item 2183 in his written judgment concerns political journalist Mary Ellen Synon, she of Bank of England fame.
"It is not really clear what was the actual input of Ms Synon," Mr Flynn writes. Paul Behan, legal cost accountant for Goodman International, "fails to sufficiently indicate who instructed who as regards to her services", Mr Flynn adds. "I agree with Mr Behan that there is nothing wrong with £225 a day but ... what was the actual work she did?"
The Taxing Master then quotes Peter Fitzpatrick, legal cost accountant for the State. "In this instance here is a lady and her position is as a journalist. She was asked to do some work. She was at this between 25th June 1991 and 13th November 1991 and in her accounts all she refers to is one day's research - not good enough, as simple as that."
Mr Flynn's transcript continues - "Essentially the invoices present an amount claimed with no details whatsoever as to the actual work carried out. Mr Behan could not state the nature of the research and thus, because of insufficient details and the fact that the onus of substantiating this disbursement has not been discharged, I must disallow this item."