you can be guaranteed 720,000 Euro isn’t coming out of the pockets of the boys in prison.

I’d say you are either dangerously naive or very sarcastic.

am I the only one here that thinks this was a stupid ruling?? I don’t begrudge the widow of that man any amount of money but at the end of the day it’s the Irish tax payer that will pay the amount awarded… it doesn’t send out a message to potential murderers… they are not paying a red cent towards the amount, in fact it’s the Irish tax payer that is paying for their stay in jail.

@fart how will the tax payer end up paying? It was a civil case, if the murders have money, houses, cars etc.. then they will have to pay up, if not they will be made bankrupt. The taxpayer will not have to pay.

@Fartbox, I heard on the news that the proceeds are coming from the sale of homes and other assets. The state are not paying out compensation (as far as I know).

You couldn’t be more wrong fartbox. Talking out your ars…….

You are spot on Andrea. The State has no liability to indemnify the defendants who were sued in a personal capacity. No idea why any of the commentators thought otherwise. If the State had been named in the proceedings and there was a proportionate finding of liability against it then yes,the tax payer would have had to pony up. This woman will only get money if the defendants have assets.

FartBox
I seriously detest having to use your name but it probably reflects some degree of accuracy in respect of the Contributions you make on these pages.
Where did you get the silly idea that this award would be paid by the Taxpayers. This Civil Damages Claim was against the imprisoned thugs and there is no mechanism by which the State can pick up the costs of any such award.
The real problem is that the lady will have to pick up her own costs if they cannot be covered by the other side.

paddy Rodgers…. fantastic name :-D pot and kettle springs to mind… if you are naive enough to believe that the men will pay 720,000 Euro in damages then that’s your problem. and a junky that murders someone in the street will pay damages awarded in court too… fantastic… let’s all go out and sue the prisoners in jail that committed murder… are you delusional?

You are side stepping the main thrust of the question Mr. Box, whilst you may debate the deterrent factor in such rulings I still fail to see your arguement as to how the State will have to cover the costs of the award?

@fart, it was very unlikely that one or more of the men don’t have significant resources (cash property) as this is the first thing a solicitor checks when entering into a civil case, just because someone is a murder and in prison doesn’t mean that they don’t have significant resources. And before you go on about the cost if the case, the costs if the case were also awarded to the women and the murderers had to pay there own expenses,

The murderers and the estate or the dead murderer

All €720,000? Call me cynical but I have my doubts if this lady will ever see a fraction of the money.

Or principle even.

I didn’t have the facts to back it up but I cannot for the life of me see how the tax payer could have ended up footing the bill for this! The state did their part in locking them up and in reaching this judgement….end of story!

Sean, the problem is idiots on this site just listen to anyone who says the taxpayer will pay, even when it’s pointed out that all costs of this case (including judges costs etc…) are paid be the parties/people involved in the case

And from whatever money is collected, the ambulance chasers get paid first, she gets what is left over

Heard this on the News at One and apparently the murderers do own property , so I am sure there will be action taken to recoup the cash. Fair play to Mrs Madden and God Rest her husband. More of the same is what is needed, it may give them something to think about .

I am not a legal expert or anything of the sort but how could the taxpayer possibly end up footing the bill for this? If you sue me for €2million and I don’t have the cash the government doesn’t pick up the tab!

It’s a bit like when a private bank goes bust and they can’t pay back bondholders the government doesn’t pick up the tab?
You are probably right Ted, though that said, I am sure we will pick up the tab for all parties legal costs which will be hefty enough.

Mr Box
Its a civil case, taxpayer has nothing to do with it. The judge may award whatever figure pops into his head, it doesn’t mean it will be paid, a Lien may be put on what ever property the criminals own. The taxpayer does not pick up the tab, get that into your thick head.

In theory you would only take a case where the defendants had either money or property.