€265,384 judgment mortgage against Lawlor

A judgment for €265,384 has been registered against Mr Liam Lawlor's home by his solicitor.

Solicitor Mr Dermot Coyne, of Dermot P. Coyne solicitors, Main Street, Lucan, Co Dublin, had the judgment mortgage registered against Mr Lawlor's Lucan home, Somerton, earlier this month.

Mr Coyne acted for Mr Lawlor in the former TD's clashes in the High Court and Supreme Court with the Flood tribunal during 2001 and 2002. He no longer acts for Mr Lawlor. It is understood that the judgment mortgage relates to costs still due from these hearings for Mr Coyne and for Mr Lawlor's barristers, Mr John Trainor SC and Mr Tim Sheehan, as well other costs associated with the hearings.

The amount does not comprise the total costs arising from the hearings, as Mr Lawlor has already paid over an unknown amount arising from the hearings.

The judgment mortgage comes just eight months after the Flood tribunal had judgments for more than €350,000 registered against the same property. The large Georgian house and the eight acres on which it stands now have judgments totalling €615,384 registered against them. Further judgments in favour of the tribunal may yet be registerd.

The judgments mean that the former Fianna Fáil TD cannot sell the property and get access to the proceeds without first settling with the tribunal and his solicitor.

In theory, the tribunal or Mr Coyne could seek to have the Lucan property sold so that their costs would be paid. Yesterday Mr Lawlor said that he had no intention of selling the property. "It's the family home," he said.

Mr Lawlor, who spends much of his time involved in property deals in Prague, in the Czech Republic, said that he was now handling his own correspondence with the tribunal. "I don't have a requirement for a legal team. I'm still corresponding with the tribunal and I can deal with that myself," he said.

Mr Lawlor said that the amount of correspondence was not onerous. "Whatever queries arise, I am happy to be of assistance to them."

The judgments registered by the tribunal arise from a preliminary decision of the Taxing Master in relation to Mr Lawlor's clashes with the tribunal. They reflect an initial decision as to the minimum Mr Lawlor will have to pay. A further amount, about €280,000, remains the subject of ongoing dispute.

Mr Lawlor said that he would address his legal costs when the Taxing Master made his ruling. He said that the ruling was still pending. The Lucan property is jointly owned by Mr Lawlor and his wife, Hazel.

In December 2001, the Lawlors sold just over an acre of land adjoining the house. Mr Lawlor has been sent to prison three times and for a total of six weeks for not co-operating with the tribunal.