Last March, Mr Justice Anthony Barr rejected an application from the former football chief for a High Court injunction against the newspaper and ordered him to pay costs.

However, the newspaper said no payments were made until it applied to take the matter to the legal costs adjudicator. A hearing was scheduled for 3 February 2020.

After the hearing was scheduled, Mr Delaney paid €20,265 to the newspaper in two cheques through his solicitor, Paddy Goodwin, the newspaper reported yesterday.

Frank Fitzgibbon, editor of The Sunday Times in Ireland, said: “Securing our costs from John Delaney draws a line under one of the most extraordinary stories to ever emerge from Irish sport.

“Mr Delaney sought to use the legal system to close down legitimate inquiry into a matter of public interest. Thankfully, the courts saw through this attempt to muzzle an investigation into the FAI and its finances and, as a consequence, Mr Delaney has paid the price, professionally and personally.’”