Final cost of Athlone councillors' IPAS court challenge not yet known

As their year-long legal battle in the High Court approached an end, the four Athlone councillors who challenged the State over the Lissywollen IPAS centre received a costs ruling in their favour from Ms Justice Emily Farrell on Friday last (November 7).

The councillors' legal team consisted of Patrick Cunningham of PB Cunningham Solicitors in Dublin, Barrister David O’Brien, and Senior Counsel Oisín Collins.

Ms Justice Farrell awarded costs in the case, up to July 25 last, to the Athlone councillors' side.

Cllr Paul Hogan explained, however, that it was likely to be several months before any final arrangements were made in terms of the costs of the case.

When the legal action was first announced, on November 21, 2024, a GoFundMe page was launched to gather donations from the public towards the councillors' legal bill.

That page attracted over 1,000 donations, totalling €52,308. The GoFundMe page states that if there are any funds left over at the end of the process they will be distributed to six named local charities.

However, despite the costs order at the High Court last week, it's not clear whether any funds will be leftover.

Cllr Hogan explained that costs incurred at the start of the legal process, and since July, aside from last Friday, were not covered by the judge's costs award.

"There are other aspects to the costs as well. We had to put in a downpayment to get the ball rolling at the outset. We then had to procure expert opinion in terms of planning and environmental law," he said.

"The GoFundMe has raised €52,000, and certainly as a group we would like to thank the community and the business people... There was an incredible level of generosity towards this campaign."

He said he hoped there would not be any further legal process required after this one ends, but that the councillors "can't see the future" and had to be conscious of that possibility.

Cllr Keena said that, from the outset, two people in Athlone had been engaged by the councillors to manage the money raised on the GoFundMe page.

"They are looking after the money. We have no access to it," he said. "Only for the kindness and generosity of the local community and business sectors throughout Athlone we would not have been able to take on this case."

Cllr Aengus O'Rourke added that the councillors had not taken any personal expenses arising from their involvement in the case.

"So for any trips to Dublin, any train fares, any diesel, anything from our perspective, there were no costs taken. All such costs were borne by ourselves," he said.