Donnan wins costs after parole refusal challenge becomes moot

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

Donnan’s challenge to a Parole Board decision became moot after the Board confirmed it would issue a direction for a detailed release plan upon receiving a parole application. The High Court awarded Donnan the costs of the application for leave to seek judicial review, including reserved costs and the costs of the costs application.

The Board had refused parole on 19 September 2024 and described preparation of a detailed plan for a future application as a non-binding recommendation. Donnan challenged that position and sought to quash the decision.

The court accepted the agreement of counsel that section 13 of the Parole Act 2019 requires a report to be prepared once the Board has directed it. Recommendations under section 30 are discretionary and non-binding.

On 26 March 2025, the Board confirmed it would issue the section 13 direction upon receiving Donnan’s parole application. The court found that the Board had acted in response to the proceedings and that its action removed the live dispute. It left the amount of costs to agreement or adjudication and certified senior and junior counsel fees for the leave application and preparation of legal submissions.