Lowry met phone licence bidders against advice of staff

FORMER Communications Minister Michael Lowry has admitted he ignored the advice of his senior civil servants in agreeing to meet businessmen involved in bidding for the State’s second mobile phone licence during 1995.

The Tipperary North TD also accused the chief executive of Independent News & Media, Tony O’Reilly, yesterday of having a “faulty” recollection over an allegation that he had informed the millionaire businessman how his bid for licence was performing.

Mr Lowry told the Moriarty Tribunal yesterday that he had been advised by his department’s secretary-general, John Loughrey that it would be preferable if he didn’t meet any of the applicants for the licence.