A former minister for agriculture was yesterday awarded £25,250 to meet the cost of his personal legal representation at the 1992 beef industry tribunal.
The award to Mr Michael O'Kennedy was made by the Taxing Master of the High Court, Master James Flynn. Mr Dave Mack, a legal cost accountant, who represented Mr O'Kennedy at yesterday's hearing, said his client had signed the warrant for setting up the tribunal and had been criticised at the time.
Mr Peter Fitzpatrick, a legal cost accountant acting for the State, wanted to make it clear there was no allegation against Mr O'Kennedy as minister.
