I regret allowing Esat press conference, says Loughrey

THE former department secretary general John Loughrey yesterday regretted allowing civil servants hold a press conference in April 1996 to defend their decision to give the second mobile telephone licence to Esat Digifone.

“I have a certain regret now but at the time it seemed almost imperative,” Mr Loughrey told the Moriarty Tribunal.

He agreed the purpose of the press conference was to dampen down speculation over Digifone’s ownership.