An Irish student who took on Facebook and Google in the courts is now fighting an estimated six-figure costs order after losing his legal battle against six national newspapers.

Eoin McKeogh, who studies business and Japanese at Dublin City University (DCU), came to public attention after he was wrongly identified as a taxi fare dodger from an online video.

The 23-year-old from Co. Kildare secured an injunction stopping sites like Facebook and YouTube from further broadcasting the material.

However, in January last year, he failed in an action to block six newspapers, including The Sunday Times, The Irish Times and Irish Daily Star, from identifying him in connection with the story.

Mr .Justice Michael Peart awarded costs in favour of the newspapers last July, but agreed to put a stay on the order until today when the case returned to court.

At this morning's hearing, Pauline Walley SC, for Mr. McKeogh, argued that lifting the stay would devastate the student's life, and professional reputation, as he would be known as someone with significant judgments against him.

'It would blight a young life that has already been blighted' she said. 'There is still material on the internet that says he came to court because he was guilty. That is the sad reality', she added.

The court heard that Eoin McKeogh is not challenging the court's findings in favour of the newspapers but intends to fight the costs award against him.

Mr. Justice Peart has agreed to keep the stay in place to allow his lawyers 21 days to bring their challenge to the Supreme Court.