€30m tribunal set to wind up after 10 years

AFTER nearly 10 years, the €30 million Moriarty Tribunal is winding up this year when its final report will be published.

The announcement was made yesterday when the tribunal resumed hearings in public — the first at Dublin Castle since May 2006.

Chairman Mr Justice Michael Moriarty said he had given an undertaking to the Government and the Oireachtas that the second part of his report would be finalised by the end of this calendar year. And he said he intended to honour that commitment.

In late December the tribunal issued its damning report into the millions of pounds businessmen contributed to fund the lavish lifestyle of former Taoiseach Charles J Haughey, who died in June 2006.

The second Moriarty report will focus on payments to Independent TD Michael Lowry. He was Fine Gael Communications Minister when Denis O’Brien’s Esat Digifone consortium won the competition for the country’s mobile phone licence in 1995.

According to tribunal lawyer, Jerry Healy, SC, the tribunal has noted five references in documentation suggesting Mr Lowry was involved in the purchase of Doncaster Rovers football club’s stadium in August 1998.

According to the tribunal legal team, documentation available to the tribunal shows two reputable and experienced English solicitors — Ruth Collard and Christopher Vaughan — had believed Mr Lowry to be involved in the Doncaster deal.

Both solicitors have indicated their willingness to give evidence to the tribunal, although Ms Collard was stated to have a health problem and might not be able to travel to Dublin.

The Doncaster property was bought by Denis O’Brien family interests through an Isle of Man company for £4.3 million, but the tribunal is seeking to establish whether Mr Lowry was also involved in the deal.

At the time, Mr Lowry had other property deals in northern England. Among his associates in these ventures was Aidan Phelan — who acted as Mr O’Brien’s business adviser and sourced properties for him.

The tribunal heard how Mr O’Brien failed in both the High Court and the Supreme Court to prevent the Moriarty Tribunal from probing the Doncaster Rovers purchase.