Pilot billed $33,220 for suing MP

A West Coast helicopter pilot who sued Ken Shirley for defamation has been ordered to pay the former Act MP's legal costs of $33,220.

Mr Shirley was initially sued by seven people over a letter he wrote in 2002 to then Police Minister George Hawkins alleging collusion between West Coast police and deer poachers.

Five of the plaintiffs withdrew their claims and former detective Lindsay Donald Egerton reached a confidential settlement with Mr Shirley.

A trial was avoided when helicopter pilot David Leslie McIlroy discontinued his defamation case against Mr Shirley three days before a three-week hearing was scheduled.

Lawyers for Mr McIlroy and Mr Shirley were back before the High Court at Wellington yesterday to argue who should foot the bill for Mr Shirley's legal costs.

Justice Alan Mackenzie said costs had been included in the settlement between Mr Egerton and Mr Shirley and it was appropriate the fees be divided equally between the two plaintiffs.

He ordered Mr McIlroy to pay $33,220, which was 50 per cent of Mr Shirley's costs.

- NZPA