Writer faces £25,000 legal bill

Suzanne Breen received the admission of responsibility for two murders

A journalist could face a £25,000 legal bill after her successful fight against police attempts to force her to hand over notes on the Real IRA.

Suzanne Breen, Sunday Tribune northern editor, refused to hand over material on the Real IRA's claim that they murdered two soldiers in March.

The PSNI on Monday opposed an application by Ms Breen for costs incurred at the hearing in June.

The judge said he would look at all the evidence before giving his decision.

A lawyer for the PSNI urged Judge Tom Burgess not to make any order for costs, which would mean each side paying their own legal bills.

The lawyer said the chief constable had no alternative but to bring the action in order to attempt to secure access to significant evidence relating to the double murder and wounding of four others.

Judge Burgess said the question of costs was a matter for the discretion of the court and he would give his decision after looking at the entirety of the evidence.

At the hearing in June, Judge Burgess ruled in Ms Breen's favour because of the risk to her life if she agreed to the police request.