A Letterkenny-based Garda and his partner face a massive legal bill after being refused their costs at the Disclosures Tribunal.
Garda Keith Harrison and his partner Marisa Simms face substantial legal bills after being refused most of their costs.
In rulings published on Thursday evening, tribunal chairman Mr Justice Peter Charleton said they were entitled to the costs of their legal representation up to and including the opening day of hearings, but no further costs beyond that point.
This means they will each face having to pay the costs of legal representation for 18 days of hearings, thought to amount to around €100,000 for Garda Harrison and €85,000 for Ms Simms.
The couple alleged gardaí conspired with Tusla to directly interfere in their family life in Donegal, as a result of the garda’s whistleblowing years previously in Athlone.
The garda claimed he was mistreated and bullied by colleagues and that gardaí colluded with Tusla to coerce a statement from Ms Simms and directed social workers to visit their family home in Letterkenny.
But Mr Justice Charleton concluded the allegations were “entirely without any validity” and exonerated gardaí and Tusla officials.
The judge describing some claims as “nonsense” in a report which was highly critical of the garda’s evidence.
The decision is the toughest costs ruling made by the judge at the tribunal.
At a hearing last month, Gda Harrison’s counsel Mark Harty insisted his client should be awarded all his costs.
For full story see https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/news/garda-and-partner-face-substantial-legal-bill-after-tribunal-refuses-most-of-their-costs-38758407.html
