Journalist Claims Legal Costs After Solicitors Help in IRA Case

Tue, 27 Oct 2009

A Northern Irish journalist is facing legal costs of £25,000 following a successful legal battle over police who had tried to force her to give up her notes on the Real IRA. Sunday Tribune northern editor Suzanne Breen refused to hand over to the police her material on the Real IRA’s claim to have murdered two soldiers in March. At a hearing in June, Judge Tom Burgess ruled in Ms Breen’s favour because of the risk to her life if she agreed to the police request.

Following her legal victory, Ms Breen is seeking to have her legal costs paid, after she sought the assistance of solicitors from a Northern Irish law firm . However, the Police Service of Northern Ireland opposed Ms Breen’s application for costs on Monday, and their lawyer urged Judge Burgess not to award costs, instead calling for each side to pay their own legal bills .

The lawyer claims the PSNI’s chief constable had no choice but to take the case to court in an attempt to secure significant evidence that may lead to a double murder conviction, and further convictions for the wounding of four others.

The judge has said he will look at all of the evidence before making a decision.
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