LAWYERS for the Moriarty tribunal have claimed that attempts were made to “wholly mislead” the inquiry about the role of former Fine Gael minister Michael Lowry in a number of property deals in Britain which have links to millionaire businessman, Denis O’Brien.

A BUSINESSMAN caught up in deals with former cabinet minister Michael Lowry was “paid off” to drop a series of actions amid an alleged bid to blackmail communications magnate Denis O’Brien, the Moriarty Tribunal heard yesterday.

AN English solicitor said he was “totally wrong” to have suggested in a letter that former Fine Gael minister Michael Lowry was involved in the purchase of Doncaster Rovers football club in 1998.

The Moriarty Tribunal has been hearing testimony about the nature of property deals in England linked to former government minister Michael Lowry and businessman Denis O'Brien.

The Moriarty Tribunal is due to reopen its public hearings today into the relationship between politician Michael Lowry and businessman Denis O'Brien.

AN English solicitor who had previously refused to give evidence to the Moriarty Tribunal made a surprise appearance before a hastily convened sitting of the inquiry at Dublin Castle yesterday.

BUSINESSMAN Denis O’Brien has suggested that there are several possible explanations why there was a controversial reference to an “ML” in a fax relating to his takeover of Doncaster Rovers Football Club in 1998.

A LOSING consortium in the bid for Ireland’s second mobile phone licence has been accused of using the Moriarty Tribunal as a “stalking horse” for a massive compensation claim against the State.

FORMER Fine Gael Cabinet Minister Michael Lowry denied at the Moriarty Tribunal yesterday he ever played any part in the purchase of struggling English soccer club Doncaster Rovers, bought by telecoms mogul Denis O’Brien’s family in August 1998.

THE 76-year-old father of telecoms billionaire Denis O’Brien enlisted Michael Lowry’s accountant to get information from his own solicitor about an English property, the Moriarty Tribunal heard yesterday.

AN American telephone company allegedly offered stg£2 million for the files connected with a British property purchase by telecoms tycoon Denis O’Brien’s family, the Moriarty Tribunal heard.

FORMER Fine Gael Minister Michael Lowry may have been on an ego trip when he allegedly claimed to be linked to telecoms tycoon Denis O’Brien’s purchase of English football league club Doncaster Rovers, the Moriarty Tribunal heard yesterday.

AFTER nearly 10 years, the €30 million Moriarty Tribunal is winding up this year when its final report will be published.

A High Court judge has cast doubt on a 2003 letter that denied former Government minister Michael Lowry was linked to the purchase of a UK property by businessman Denis O’Brien.

Millionaire businessman Denis O’Brien is today trying to block the Moriarty Tribunal probing into his business affairs as vital witnesses are not available to give evidence in public.

Businessman Denis O’Brien threatened tonight to take the Moriarty Tribunal to the High Court to prevent further damage to his personal reputation.

AFTER a five-month break, the Moriarty Tribunal resumes in Dublin Castle today.

FORMER minister Michael Lowry insisted yesterday he knew nothing about radically different versions of two letters which Moriarty Tribunal lawyers allege were intended to conceal his true role in a British property deal.

CHARLES HAUGHEY is to be grilled again by the Moriarty Tribunal despite his deteriorating health, it emerged yesterday.

The Moriarty Tribunal began sitting publicly yesterday for the first time since last October. It spent the better part of a year investigating property deals in Britain involving the former Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications, Michael Lowry, and Denis O'Brien.

FORMER Fine Gael Minister Michael Lowry will be grilled today over alleged attempts to cover-up his role in a property deal linked to business tycoon Denis O'Brien.