THE dispute over the Bula mine at Nevinstown, Co Meath, ended yesterday after 277 days in the High Court, the longest hearing in the history of the State.

Mr Justice Lynch told lawyers he hoped to be able to give judgment in the case before next Easter.

Almost 750,000 documents were produced in an action brought by Bula Ltd (in receivership), the company which owns the mine, and businessmen Mr Michael Wymes of Bective House, Navan, Co Meath and Mr Richard Wood of Rochrohan, Carrigrohan, Co Cork.

They sued Tara Mines Ltd; Outokumpu Oy, the Finnish company which now owns Tara; the directors of both those companies; the Minister for Energy and Mr Michael O'Connell, appointed by the Government to be a director of Bula.