Wicklow County Council to pay costs of €1m in libel action

Costs estimated at some €1 million have been awarded against Wicklow County Council in the successful libel appeal brought by a councillor and a former councillor against the former manager, Eddie Sheehy.

Independent councillor Tommy Cullen and former councillor Barry Nevin sued Mr Sheehy in the Circuit Court arising from an April 2013 press statement, made by Mr Sheehy and which they held defamed them.

They lost their case but last July won a High Court appeal and were awarded €20,000 each. Yesterday, Ms Justice Maria Baker awarded costs against the council and Mr Sheehy, which it is believed the council will pay in full.

Sources close to the case say they expect costs to be about €500,000 for each side – money that, along with the libel awards, will have to be taxpayer funded.