They have been described as riding the "greatest gravy train in Irish history" by the Dail's public accounts committee (PAC), which is probing the cost of long-running tribunals.
The Moriarty inquiry, set up in 1997, has cost the state 36.25m to date and made fee-millionaires of some of its legal team. Jeremiah Healy and John Coughlan, its two lead barristers, have earned 8.5m each in those 12 years.
Today The Sunday Times can reveal how the tribunal's lawyers have used state funds to pay for gourmet sandwiches, chauffeurs and costly fountain pens. At the same time the lawyers were threatening to walk out if their pay was not increased in 2002 from 1,845 per day.
A total of 29.27m has now been paid in fees to the tribunal's barristers and solicitors.
In addition:
Advertisement
While most witnesses are reimbursed small amounts, Kate MacMillan, a solicitor who worked for Carter Ruck, an English firm, was paid 17,476 in 2007. She gave evidence to the tribunal on April 17, 2007, in London. Her payment is listed under Investec Bank (UK) as "cost of Kate MacMillan's time etc in connection with her giving evidence on commission".
Documents released to this newspaper also show a further 1,929.13 of expenses were paid through Investec on the same date but the name of the recipient is withheld.
Ruth Collard, a partner in Carter Ruck, gave evidence on the same day. The firm was paid a further 23,229 in 2008.
Bernard Allen, chairman of the PAC, described the payments for the two witnesses as "astounding".
Advertisement
He said: "If that is a fee for one day's evidence, then it is through the roof. We will have to ask the Departments of the Taoiseach and Finance about it when we return to this in October. There may be a good reason but it demands an explanation."
Allen said the PAC would also "pursue" the issue of the state paying for the lawyers' lunches. According to the accounts, the lawyers regularly have "working lunches" and order food from a variety of establishments near Dublin Castle. A bill of 4,450 was run up in Nude, a cafe chain owned by Norman Hewson, the brother of the U2 frontman Bono.
Gruel, a restaurant on Dame Street, was the most popular destination with bills amounting to 26,272 for meals from 2002 to 2006.
A bill of 3,121 was paid to Fitzers in the National Gallery of Ireland and 4,804 was charged by the Gallic Kitchen for catering between 1997 and 2002.
The Swedish Food Company earned 1,294 from the tribunal, while Bendini & Shaw was paid 282. Ala Claire Catering, based in the Kings Inn, was paid 2,524 in one invoice, while Bewleys got 4,176 over six years up to 2002. Sandwiches costing 1,075 were purchased from Liston's on Camden Street between 2007 and 2008.
Advertisement
The lawyers' annual coffee bill has come to about 1,000 each year until 2008. Five years ago, the taoiseach's office approved a 132.96 invoice from Nespresso Club for "specialist Nespresse coffee for judge and legal team".
Last week The Sunday Times asked the Department of Taoiseach what rules let a tribunal legal team charge meals, newspapers and coffee to the state. A spokesman said it was "examining the matter" and would have an answer this week.
Separate documents from the taoiseach's office reveal that Judge Moriarty "was most unhappy" that his lawyers were not granted a pay increase in early 2002. The judge "considered that the running of the tribunal had been very economical", according to a memo written by Dermot McCarthy, the department's secretary general.
After a meeting with Healy in April 2002, McCarthy wrote that there was a prospect of "some immediate departures from the team" if the lawyers did not get paid more than a 1,845 daily rate. The lawyers secured a pay rise in May 2002 to a rate of 2,500 per day.
Two of the tribunal's most costly suppliers are Doyle Court Reporters and Pearl Audio Visual. Office supplies also account for a large amount of costs. The tribunal's 400 expenditure on Pilot fountain pens include a single purchase of 104.16. The tribunal has spent 6,894 on 25 dictaphones and accessories since 1998.
Advertisement
There are several bills from National Radio Cabs for taxis to take tribunal staff the short distance to the Four Courts. Michael Devine Chauffeur Services, described as "professional reliable, discreet" on its website, has been used for several journeys by barristers and Judge Moriarty for a bill of 1,632 since 2002.
Other fees listed in the tribunal's annual bills include a 605 charge for "rodent control" from Eastern Pest Control.
Prof Maeve McDonagh, a freedom of information expert, was paid 1,205 for work with the tribunal and Carr Communications earned 690 for training Moriarty staff in 2003 and 2006.