Grace inquiry witnesses awarded €2.5m in legal costs

The Department of Children has disclosed that legal expenses for witnesses involved in the Grace inquiry have reached €2.5 million, contributing to the inquiry’s overall cost of €13.6 million. These legal costs were approved by the Farrelly Commission and cover legal representation for various witnesses, including the legal team assigned to Grace, who was under wardship during the proceedings.

While some legal fees have been finalized, additional cost assessments are still pending. The inquiry, which examined serious abuse allegations connected to the care of a young woman known as Grace in a foster home in the southeast, concluded after a lengthy investigation that spanned eight years.

Breakdown of Costs and Timeline Extension

Administrative costs form the largest share of the inquiry’s expenditure, totaling €11.1 million. These expenses cover salaries for commission members, including Chairperson Marjorie Farrelly, who received an annual salary of €172,000 based on the equivalent 2017 High Court judge rate. Other administrative expenses include payments for legal teams, office accommodation, and document-related services.

The Department has also confirmed that the commission has received an eight-week extension, moving its final deadline to May 23. This extension will allow time to finalize outstanding legal cost decisions and to archive the materials collected throughout the inquiry.