Lowry accuses tribunal of ‘legal ambush’

INDEPENDENT TD Michael Lowry has accused the Moriarty Tribunal of carrying out a “legal ambush” in its investigation of the 1995 mobile phone licence competition.

A huge row has broken out between the tribunal and two of the subjects of its inquiry — Mr Lowry and multimillionaire businessman Denis O’Brien.

The row centres over assistance given to the tribunal by economist Dr Peter Bacon. Dr Bacon produced a report for the tribunal in 2003, but this report was not disclosed at the time to witnesses, who were cross-examined by tribunal lawyers.