The widow of the former chief executive of CIÉ, Michael McDonnell, has taken legal action to compel the Oireachtas sub-committee inquiry into cost overruns in the mini-CTC rail signalling project to pay some €220,000 towards the cost of her legal representation at the inquiry.
The action by Ms Noreen McDonnell was listed for yesterday but was unable to proceed because no judge was available to hear it. The matter was consequently adjourned to the next court list to fix dates for hearing.
The CTC sub-committee inquiry ran for 26 days but was unable to complete its work following a successful legal challenge by gardaí to another sub-committee inquiry into the shooting dead of John Carthy at Abbeylara.
In late November 2001, a three-judge divisional High Court found there was no inherent power in the Oireachtas to set up inquiries likely to lead to findings of fact or expressions of opinion adverse to the good names of people who are not members of the Oireachtas.
That decision was later upheld by the Supreme Court.
Ms McDonnell was given leave by the High Court in October 2001 to take judicial review proceedings against the sub-committee.
She complained that restrictions on the cross-examination of witnesses were seriously prejudicial to endeavours to protect her husband's good name and reputation and she also expressed concern at the sub-committee's refusal to make provision for her side's legal costs.