Wednesday, 7 March, 2007

ABC NT Local News

Entrepreneur Norm McCleary faces a six-figure legal bill for his failed claim over multi-billion-dollar uranium deposits in central Australia.

McCleary has been ordered to pay the Northern Territory Government's costs for the case.

Last month, the Northern Territory Supreme Court ruled McCleary's night-time pegging expedition at uranium deposits near Alice Springs was unlawful.

In court today, Justice Trevor Riley said the Government had been substantially successful in defending the case and McCleary should pay all its costs.

A spokesman for the Northern Territory Mines Department says the bill may be a six-figure sum.

During the case, McCleary signed a business deal with Perth mining company Segue Resources in a bid to help cover his legal costs.

Segue agreed to pay him $220,000 and millions of shares in exchange for a 50 per cent stake in any rights he secured.