Ryan costs row with families of R116 dead

TRANSPORT MINISTER Eamon Ryan is involved in a row over the legal costs for families of the four R116 helicopter crash victims, the Irish Mail on Sunday has learned.

A letter written by a senior Department official last month confirmed that Mr Ryan has yet to refer the costs to the State Claims Agency.

The letter – seen by the MoS – states: ‘The disbursement of public money for any purpose requires that necessary due diligence is carried out to provide the citizen with appropriate assurance. To this end, the minister intends to refer the fee notes to the State Claims Agency to be dealt with on an urgent basis.’

A spokesman for the minister last night confirmed the process has been held up by a disagreement over the amount of legal fees involved.

They said: ‘Minister Ryan gave a commitment to the families of the R116 crew that the Department of Transport would cover reasonable legal expenses incurred as a result of the review into the accident. The legal teams sent details of their fees in late December and early January, which were well in excess of those charged by the State’s counsel. The minister has asked the State Claims Agency to advise on the matter, with a view to reaching an agreement.’

Captain Dara Fitzpatrick, co-pilot Mark Duffy, winch man Ciarán Smith and crewman Paul Ormsby were killed in the early hours of March 14, 2017, after the Sikorsky helicopter they were travelling in crashed into Blackrock Island off the northwest Mayo coast.

When the review’s results were published last autumn, RTÉ’s Investigations Unit reported that Mr Ryan’s department strongly opposed applications for costs made by the legal teams for three of the families.

He denied the Government objected to the families being awarded legal costs, insisting his officials told the review board they did not have the authority to make an order on costs.

The process has been held up by a disagreement