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Mahon Tribunal Case 4 July 2007

Yesterday's Mahon Tribunal case in the Supreme Court is available on the Courts Service website at www.courts.ie/Judgments.nsf/Webpages/HomePage

The title is
Fitzwilton Limited and Others -v- Judge Alan Mahon and Others [2007] IESC 27

A brief extract from paragraph 14 of Denham J's judgment:

'I also note the words of the next paragraph. These are:- "The Tribunal may decide to continue its inquiries and/or proceed to public hearing in respect of one or more issues which are currently part of a matter designated and listed herein." The words "The Tribunal may decide" is not a record that a decision has been made. The words are not "The Tribunal has decided". Rather, the words, "The Tribunal may decide", indicate that a decision may be taken in the future by the Tribunal. It is clear that the Tribunal has considered the listed matters. This is the first step required by the Houses of the Oireachtas.
The second step the Tribunal was required to take was to make a decision as to the additional matters which should proceed to public hearing. The words in the document "? may decide to continue its inquiries and/or proceed to public hearing in respect of one or more issues ? listed herein" indicate that the Tribunal reserved its decision to a future date, which may be a reference to the discretion conferred by paragraph J(6). The words "may decide", indicate an action in the future.
This is confirmed by the words stating that the Tribunal may do either of two things. The specific words: "and/or proceed to public hearing", describe a situation where the matters are under consideration not decision.
The third step is to record the decision. On its face the document of the 28th April, 2005, does not record a decision that specified additional matters go to a public hearing.'

Sample media coverage:
http://www.rte.ie/news/2007/0704/mahon.html

Full post as published by Irish Law Update on July 05, 2007 (boomark / email).