Pulse FM, the unsuccessful applicant for a youth-orientated radio licence for Dublin, has lost its Supreme Court appeal against having to lodge £100,000 (€126,974) in court before challenging the granting of the licence. Costs arising from the appeal were awarded against the consortium.

The application for a judicial review of the granting of the licence to Spin FM, a consortium involving Mr Denis O'Brien, by the Independent Radio and Television Commission (IRTC) is now due to be heard in May. Pulse FM, a consortium including U2 manager Mr Paul McGuinness, must lodge the £100,000 in court by Tuesday week if it still wishes to go ahead with the case.

Pulse has to lodge two sums of £50,000 to cover respectively the potential costs of the IRTC and Spin FM. Storm FM, another unsuccessful applicant, was ordered by the Supreme Court to lodge £50,000 to cover potential costs of Spin arising from its involvement in the case being taken against the IRTC decision. Storm, a consortium involving night club owner Mr John Reynolds and U2's The Edge, had earlier been ordered by the High Court to lodge £50,000 to cover the potential costs of the IRTC.