Lawyers for RTÉ and its chief news correspondent, Charlie Bird, have submitted a bill of costs for €1.2 million to the Taxing Master of the High Court arising out of their successful defence of a libel action brought against them by the former Fianna Fáil TD for Mayo, Beverley Flynn.
Taxing Master Charles Moran yesterday reserved his decision.
In 2001 the now independent deputy lost her High Court libel action arising from a report broadcast on RTÉ. The action was against RTÉ, Mr Bird and farmer James Howard. She also failed in her appeal to the Supreme Court which was at hearing for three days. Ms Flynn had alleged she was libelled in six broadcasts in 1998 which reported that as an employee of National Irish Bank, she had encouraged or assisted a number of persons in tax evasion.
In 2004 the Supreme Court heard an appeal against the result of the High Court hearing and in a reserved judgment the judges unanimously rejected her appeal.
Ms Flynn was not represented yesterday for the hearing before Mr Moran, who said he must be satisfied that every item was properly and necessarily incurred.