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Independent Donegal South West TD Thomas Pringle. Sam Boal/Photocall Ireland
pringle
Pringle could face substantial legal costs after European court loss
The independent TD said that if the court decides he’s liable for a six figure sum he does not have the cash in hand to pay.
INDEPENDENT TD THOMAS Pringle could face a substantial legal bill after losing his court challenge to the legality of the permanent European Union bailout fund.
Yesterday the ECJ ruled that the European Stability Mechanism is lawful, clearing the way for the multi-billion euro bailout fund to come into force next year.
Today the Irish Independent reported that the independent TD could now be required to pay up to €250,000 in legal costs.
Pringle told TheJournal.ie that it is now up to the Supreme Court to make a decision on legal costs which will probably happen in the next couple of weeks.
“It was always a factor that I was aware of in taking the case, I knew that I could be liable for the costs,” he said. “I thought that this issue was important enough so I had to go with it.”
If the court rules he is liable for costs of over €200,000 Pringle said, “Obviously I don’t have the cash in hand to pay it but if it comes to it I’ll have to think of something”.
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