Millionaire property developer, Mr Owen O'Callaghan has won his challenge to the Mahon Tribunal's refusal to pay his legal costs in relation to evidence from one of the inquiry's star witnesses, Mr Tom Gilmartin.
Mr Justice O'Neill today ordered the tribunal to pay the legal costs of Mr O'Callaghan's successful challenge to the inquiry's refusal to allow his lawyers access to various statements made by Mr Gilmartin at the High Court today.
Last week, Mr Justice O'Neill disagreed with the tribunal's claim that it was entitled to withhold the documents on the grounds they were received confidentially at the tribunal's private investigative stage and that disclosure might inhibit people from giving information to the tribunal.
The judge declared the tribunal's refusal to grant Mr O'Callaghan access to the statements breached the plaintiff's constitutional right to fair procedures and unreasonably hampered his right to cross-examine Mr Gilmartin.
The tribunal says it will appeal the decision to the Supreme Court.