Lowry denies paying off businessman

A BUSINESSMAN caught up in deals with former cabinet minister Michael Lowry was “paid off” to drop a series of actions amid an alleged bid to blackmail communications magnate Denis O’Brien, the Moriarty Tribunal heard yesterday.

Solicitor Christopher Vaughan told fellow lawyer Kate Macmillan during telephone conversations that he believed property dealer Kevin Phelan had “orchestrated the whole thing”. And he was also said to have informed his legal colleague that he looked upon Mr Phelan as “a total crook”.

Ms Macmillan, whose note about her exchanges with Mr Vaughan was headed “blackmail”, was a member of a firm of lawyers representing media tycoon Mr O’Brien.