IIU backing of bid ‘not known’

FINANCIER Dermot Desmond’s backing of Esat Digifone was not known to the civil servant in charge of the evaluation process when the Irish-led consortium won the second mobile phone licence, the Moriarty Tribunal heard yesterday.

Mr Desmond was mentioned nowhere in Esat’s licence application, which was examined by Martin Brennan and other top civil servants, who were assisted by Danish consultants Andersen Management International.

The tribunal heard the Department of Communications ignored a letter revealing Mr Desmond’s firm as a major backer of the bid two weeks after Esat’s successful presentation. Mr Brennan, in a covering letter drafted by a colleague, said the information it contained would not be considered as part of Esat’s presentation.