Interim payments for beef tribunal to be decided today

THE Taxing Master of the High Court, Mr James Flynn, is expected to rule today on the amount of the interim payment he will allow on the beef tribunal costs he approved on Tuesday.

A stay of 14 days was put on full payment of Mr Larry Goodman's and Goodman International's costs to allow the State to consider whether to appeal. However, Mr Peter Fitzpatrick, legal cost accountant for the State, agreed that some of the costs could be paid on an interim basis.

Some of the more unusual costs allowed by Master Flynn concern the "outlays and general disbursements" incurred by Mr Larry Goodman and Goodman International. These came to a total of £939,293.05p and were in addition to the £6.75 million allowed in legal fees.

The largest single amount in this category, £252,180.58p, went to Doyle court reporters, who transcribed proceedings for counsel. The next largest amount, £162,361.83p, went to Mr Pat Heneghan, a public relations consultant, who was categorised by Master Flynn as an "expert adviser".

The primary reason for all owing this payment was that the State, had employed Carr Communications in a similar capacity.

Somers and Associates were awarded £118,157.66p for preparing economic analyses and the Stokes Kennedy Crowley accountancy firm is to receive £116,503.47p. Craig Gardiner Price Waterhouse gets £76,000 as expert witness/adviser".

Another £41,100 was allowed for the use of rooms at Dublin Castle. A catering charge, averaging £80 a day and not including food, worth £33,906.17p, was approved to Concept Catering.

The former group financial director of Goodman International, Mr Brian Britton, working at the time of the tribunal for Britton Consultants Ltd, was allowed £35,000 fees as "a witness for Goodman International and subsidiary companies and Mr L Goodman and also for and on behalf of himself". He was further allowed £2,953 in travelling and subsistence expenses, a total of £37,953.

Described by Master Flynn as "an ordinary witness", Mr Britton would appear to be something of an exception. Just before dealing with Mr Britton's costs in his ruling, the Taxing Master noted that "the number of ordinary witnesses in this matter was enormous but they have not claimed their costs nor have their costs been claimed . . . Accordingly, it is not within my remit to allow anything for them and I must point out that nothing has been claimed."

Stewarts farm management consultants were allowed £29,573.76p. Another £25,876.23p was allowed for solicitors' travelling expenses and £15,000 was allowed for binding. Mr Goodman was allowed £3,536.11p "in relation to hotel accommodation".