Telecom court cases to be defended

THE Government will defend any legal proceedings taken by consortiums which lost in the bid to win Ireland's second mobile phone licence, officials said last night.

The Communications Department officials said they were aware of planned legal challenges which have come in the wake of Moriarty Tribunal investigations into the affairs of businessman Denis O’Brien and former Communications Minister Michael Lowry.

But officials indicated that legal action is at a very early stage and no statements of claim have been received to state how much would be involved. Mr O’Brien, whose firm Esat Digifone, won the franchise in 1995 subsequently sold it for 2.6bn over two years ago. Both Mr O’Brien and Mr Lowry have strenuously denied all suggestions that there was anything improper in their relationship.