The parents of 14-year-old Lewis O'Carolan, who lost a High Court action last week seeking an appropriate education for their son, were today awarded their costs, estimated at up to €300,000 for the legal proceedings.
Lawyers for both the Department of Education and the Health Service Executive had asked the court to make no order.
However Mr Justice John McMenamin ruled that the O'Carolans should be entitled to the costs of the three day hearing and reserved costs.
Last week the High Court ruled that State proposals for the care and education of Lewis were objectively adequate. His parents had sought State funding for his education in an autism specific centre in Wales.
Mr Justice McMenamin ruled today that they were entitled to the costs because the State proposals that were ultimately accepted by the court were not finalised by the State agencies until the court hearing was concluded.
The O'Carolans are still pursuing a case for damages against the State for its failure to provide for Lewis's education to date and are still considering whether to appeal last week's decision.
Annette O'Carolan described the costs order as a little recognition of what the family had been through. She was supported today by MEP and disabilities campaigner Kathy Sinnott and a fund raising appeal has been launched to try and raise the money needed to spend Lewis to Wales.
