The lawyer who had his brief fee reduced from 30,000 guineas (£31,500) to £15,000 by the Supreme Court on Monday is Mr Paul Sreenan, a Cork-born senior counsel. The Supreme Court in its judgment did not name Mr Sreenan and referred only to a barrister.
Mr Sreenan was nominated by the Commissioners of Public Lights to appear on its behalf at an oral hearing of Bord Pleanala. He indicated his brief fee would be a minimum of 30,000 guineas and "refresher fees" would be 3,000 guineas a day.
He had said if the Department of the Marine considered the fees excessive he would consider what it had to say and, if necessary, have the fees taxed.
Mr Sreenan has appeared in many cases in the High Court. He was successful against the State in appearing for the mother of a quadriplegic and mentally handicapped child who was fighting for the provision of education.
He has represented the Sunday Times and Cork Examiner and appeared in a number of legal actions relating to agriculture.
Mr Sreenan is the Ireland editor of European Law Reports of Cases in the UK and Ireland. He was called to the Bar in 1979 and made a senior counsel in 1991.