Hain contempt case cost £7.7k
THE aborted prosecution of former Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Peter Hain, for allegedly “scandalising the court” by criticising a judge in his autobiography ‘Outside In’ cost the people of Northern Ireland £7.7k, it’s been revealed.
The contempt of court charge brought by Northern Ireland Attorney General, John Larkin QC, was dropped ahead of a trial scheduled for June after Mr Hain clarified his comments.
First Minister Peter Robinson and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness revealed the cost to the people of Northern Ireland in response to an Assembly Question.
In a joint statement the Ministers revealed the estimated cost to the taxpayer of the action taken to prosecute Peter Hain MP by the Northern Ireland Attorney General was £7,700.