Over half a million spent on legal bills

IN September it emerged the cost of the trial had topped £550,000.

The costs include £336,000 spent on legal aid; £160,000 spent by the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) on prosecution costs and £53,000 on court costs.

All four defendants were unanimously cleared.

The PPS said its expenditure as of September was £159,002. This comprised £152,743 (including VAT) counsel costs and witness expenses of £6,259.

The Legal Services Agency said expenditure on legal aid stood at a combined £336,950.

Blane McIlroy’s legal aid costs totalled £154,146.59, while Rory Harrison’s legal aid costs amounted to £107,535.78.

Stuart Olding was granted legal aid midway through the trial. His costs totalled £73,965.13.

Paddy Jackson did not apply for legal aid in the Crown Court, therefore his costs were lower, standing at £1,304.43.