BUSINESSMAN Denis O’Brien, who has spent €7.5 million on advisers, yesterday called on the Moriarty Tribunal to wind up its public inquiry into the awarding of the country’s second mobile phone licence.

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.

FORMER Esat Digifone legal expert Jarleth Burke told the resumed Moriarty Tribunal yesterday he had never had any contact with Michael Lowry, Minister for Communications during the competition for the country’s second mobile phone licence in 1995.

MICHAEL Lowry’s predecessor as communications minister wanted civil servants to waste no time in selecting a winner to run the State’s second mobile phone system, the Moriarty Tribunal heard yesterday.

FORMER civil servant Fintan Towey told the Moriarty Tribunal yesterday he stood over the evaluation report that selected Esat Digifone as winner of the competition for the state’s second mobile phone licence.

FORMER department secretary general John Loughrey told the tribunal yesterday he stood over the process that resulted in Esat Digifone getting the licence for the country’s second mobile telephone service.

A SENIOR civil servant told the Moriarty Tribunal yesterday he didn’t believe former Minister Michael Lowry interfered with the process by which Esat Digifone was selected to operate the country’s second mobile telephone network.

THERE was no suggestion from evidence made available to the tribunal that former Communications Minister Michael Lowry interfered with the Government committee that selected the winner of the country’s second mobile telephone licence, Mr Justice Michael Moriarty said yesterday.

BUSINESSMAN Denis O’Brien’s lawyer yesterday challenged groups who failed to win the ’s second mobile phone licence “to put up or shut up”.

The 30th anniversary of Bloody Sunday tomorrow comes as the inquiry into the Army killings prepares to move into a new phase, amid mounting complaints about the cost.