‘Lowry ego trip led to Doncaster claim’

FORMER Fine Gael Minister Michael Lowry may have been on an ego trip when he allegedly claimed to be linked to telecoms tycoon Denis O’Brien’s purchase of English football league club Doncaster Rovers, the Moriarty Tribunal heard yesterday.

This was the view of UK-based solicitor Christopher Vaughan, who had previously acted for Mr Lowry in two other property deals, at Cheadle and Mansfield, in the north of England.

According to the Northampton solicitor, Mr Lowry made the comments when they first met in late September 1998 — a month after the Doncaster deal was struck by interests acting for the O’Brien family.