MR Thomas Roche senior and his son, Mr Thomas Roche, have been ordered by the High Court to pay a portion of the costs of the legal proceedings involving the Bula lead zinc mine at Navan, Co Meath.

Three weeks ago, Mr Justice Lynch dismissed an action brought by two other Bula directors, Mr Michael Wymes and Mr Richard Wood, against neighbouring Tara Mines Ltd and the Minister for Energy.

The judge ordered Mr Wymes, Mr Wood, and the Bula companies to pay the costs of the 277 day hearing.

Mr Wymes and Mr Wood, together with Bula Ltd (in receivership) and Bula Holdings, had claimed Tara and the Minister were responsible for the failure to bring the Bula mine into production.

Originally, the Roches were also parties to the action but withdrew their claim in October, 1994. This followed High and Supreme Court proceedings in which the Roches alleged they were being oppressed as shareholders in the Bula venture.

Last week, counsel for the Roches told the court that for a long period the Roches had not been in control of events and could not prevent the action against Tara and the Minister going ahead. The case began on December 14th, 1993, and went on for 277 days over the following three years. Total legal costs are estimated at £3 million.