The High Court has allowed Shell E&P Ireland to end its long running legal action against four people opposed to the Corrib gas pipeline.
But the company now faces a legal bill of more than €1m after the court ruled that it must pay most of the legal costs of the defendants.
Counterclaims by some local residents against the company and the State are to continue.
The High Court will also consider whether the residents are entitled to seek damages over what they allege was an improperly obtained April 2005 injunction stopping interference with the pipeline route.
