Lowry accused of bid to get extra rent for Dunne

MICHAEL LOWRY asked the son of former Taoiseach Garret FitzGerald to intervene on behalf of Ben Dunne in rent negotiations on a building in Dublin’s north inner city, the Moriarty Tribunal heard yesterday.

Mark FitzGerald said Mr Lowry attempted to influence a rent review that would have netted Mr Dunne an extra £450,000 a year.

He said the then Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications told him Mr Dunne wanted the rent on Marlborough House doubled from £5 per square foot to £10. The 90,000 square foot building was rented by Telecom Éireann, the semi-State company Mr Lowry was ultimately responsible for.