O’Reilly denies taping phone call

INDEPENDENT News and Media (INM) chief executive Gavin O’Reilly has been accused of “mad behaviour”, allegedly taping a heated telephone conversation with Denis O’Brien.

Mr O’Brien’s spokesman James Morrissey said he believes Mr O’Reilly taped and “selectively leaked” a phone conversation with Mr O’Brien almost two weeks ago regarding the performance of the company.

Details of the conversation emerged over the weekend and Mr O’Brien, who was speaking from Ibiza, Spain, at the time of the call, is believed to have said he is up for a “fight” if Mr O’Reilly wanted one. INM is believed to have prepared a note on the call.