Finnegan loses High Court challenge to tribunal

Auctioneer Mr John Finnegan has failed in his High Court bid to restrict the scope of the Flood tribunal’s investigation.

Auctioneer Mr John Finnegan has failed in his High Court bid to restrict the scope of the Flood tribunal’s investigation.

Mr Finnegan asked the court to prohibit any examination of his business affairs or accounts "not the subject of payments to Mr Raphael Burke" or his companies except for the purpose of segregating such payments as outside the scope of the tribunal.

Mr Finnegan of Seapoint House, Seapoint Avenue, Monkstown, had asked the court to declare that the tribunal would exceed its powers if it inquired into matters other than "the authorisation of the payment to Mr Raphael Burke and Canio Ltd".

However, in his judgment this morning Mr Justice Kearns ruled that the tribunal had not denied Mr Finnegan natural justice or fair procedure by inquiring into his business affairs.