The woman who had her case for privacy and defamation against a newspaper dismissed last Friday had sought €450,000 compensation as well as her legal costs.

The Sunday Tribune understands that Ruth Hickey, a PR executive and partner of entertainer Twink's former husband David Agnew, is now facing costs of up to €150,000 after her case against the Sunday World was dismissed.

The 36-year-old had argued that photographs published by the newspaper of Hickey, Agnew and their young son after registering their child's birth in 2006 represented a breach of privacy.

The newspaper had argued that the photographs were taken in a public place and thus did not breach Hickey's privacy, especially as she had previously given interviews to the media in which she discussed both her relationship with Agnew and her pregnancy.

Prior to the case being heard last August, Hickey's legal team approached the Sunday World and demanded compensation of €450,000 to avoid a trial and further legal costs for both sides.

The newspaper refused and the case went to a full hearing. Hickey took to the witness box where she spoke about how the article had upset her and her family. She argued that "people who know nothing about me or any of us do not need to read about this over coffee on a Sunday morning".

After she finished giving evidence, Hickey's legal team went back with another demand marginally lower than their first sum, and costs, which was again rejected.

David Agnew and Ruth Hickey had met when they were members of the RTÉ orchestra and had embarked on an affair while Agnew was still married to Twink, with whom he has two daughters. Their marriage subsequently ended.

When Twink heard of the birth of Hickey and Agnew's son she left a now infamous phone message on her estranged husband's phone in which she urged him to "zip up your mickey".

The controversial grand dame of Irish entertainment also labelled Hickey a "whore" and her child a "bastard" during the telephone rant and also referred to Agnew as a "fat, bald, middle-aged dickhead".

The message subsequently became public, which led to the Sunday World photographing the pair outside the Office of Births, Deaths and Marriages.

When the newspaper published the photos of Hickey and Agnew it also mentioned Twink's phone message and Hickey claimed in court that the publication of the word "whore" would have led readers to believe she was a prostitute.

This argument was dismissed by the judge last week. Although he ruled that the Sunday World was entitled to have the case against it dismissed, he criticised the publication, saying it had engaged in the "lowest standards of journalism imaginable" and added it was a fact of life that such material sells newspapers.

The case is due back before the courts this week when Justice Nicholas Kearns will rule on costs.

The Sunday World declined to comment and Ruth Hickey could not be contacted.