I had no part in Doncaster club deal, says Lowry

FORMER Fine Gael Cabinet Minister Michael Lowry denied at the Moriarty Tribunal yesterday he ever played any part in the purchase of struggling English soccer club Doncaster Rovers, bought by telecoms mogul Denis O’Brien’s family in August 1998.

Now an Independent TD for Tipperary North, Mr Lowry also insisted he never had any beneficial or legal interest in the Doncaster property. The tribunal has heard Mr Lowry’s accountant offered to mediate in a dispute between the O’Briens and British-based property scout Kevin Phelan who bought the club.

Mr Lowry had been Communications Minister in May 1996 when Mr O’Brien’s Esat Digifone consortium was awarded the licence to set up the country’s second mobile phone licence network.