Woman’s rape allegations appeal rejected in legal costs case

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

The Court of Appeal dismissed a woman’s appeal against an order to pay 60 per cent of her former husband’s legal costs on 27 October 2023.

The High Court had found that her rape and sexual abuse allegations against her former husband were untrue, and that she made them knowing they were untrue for ulterior purposes. It ruled that the allegations unnecessarily prolonged the family law proceedings and ordered her to pay most of the costs.

The appeal court held that the High Court judge was entitled to consider the allegations and reflect his findings in the costs order. It also gave the woman 14 days to make submissions opposing its preliminary view that she should pay her former husband’s costs of the appeal.