Consultants refuse to give evidence over licence

KEY consultants who vetted the applicants for the country’s second mobile phone licence say they won’t give evidence before the Moriarty Tribunal, now investigating how the award was made.

The refusal of both Danish-based Andersen Management International (AMI) and its former managing director Michael Andersen to testify prompted tribunal counsel John Coughlan SC to query the wisdom of hiring independent consultants who are not amenable to the processes of the State. Mr Coughlan described as disappointing that neither Mr Andersen nor AMI was available to give evidence about AMI's role in the GSM licence evaluation process.

Explaining why he won't come, Mr Andersen said he was bound by confidentiality obligations. Also, attending the tribunal would expose him to material penalties by the consultancy's new owners, AMI Ementor.