Two newspaper publishers have taken a High Court challenge to a decision to certify fees of almost €48,000 for barristers who had acted for an English journalist, Ian Bailey, in defamation proceedings.
Mr Bailey was twice arrested for questioning about the murder of Frenchwoman Sophie Toscan du Plantier.
Mr Justice Abbott yesterday granted the Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) and Newsgroup Ltd, publishers of the Irish Mirror and Irish Sun, leave to seek a declaration that, in making an order certifying the €24,000 fees for counsel, Judge Patrick Moran exceeded his powers.
The two newspapers also got leave to seek declarations that Judge Moran failed to vindicate their rights.
Mr Bailey (46), The Prairie, Liscaha, Schull, Co Cork brought a total of seven actions before Judge Moran alleging defamation in a series of media articles arising from the investigation into the murder of Ms Toscan du Plantier (38) in 1996.
Mr Bailey has always denied any involvement in the French woman's death.
Judge Moran dismissed Mr Bailey's actions against five newspapers but held he had been defamed by the Irish Mirror and Irish Sun in relation to their describing him as having been violent towards his former wife. The judge awarded Mr Bailey damages of €4,000 each against both newspapers and also directed that each should pay 50 per cent of the legal costs of Mr Bailey's actions against them.
Yesterday, Mr Paul Gallagher SC, for the two newspapers, told Mr Justice Abbott that solicitors acting for his clients had received letters from Mr Bailey's solicitors asking that the two publishers pay legal costs of €84,366 each.
