O’Brien cash in Lowry account

MONEY from Denis O’Brien ended up in an account owned by former Transport Minister Michael Lowry for the purchase of a property in the northern English town of Mansfield.

The Moriarty Report outlines how, at the time Mr Lowry first gave evidence to the tribunal in June 1999, he was in the throes of acquiring the Mansfield property, and how later he claimed that the transaction was not relevant to the business of the tribunal.

English-based property development consultant Kevin Phelan had sought to make contact with Mr Lowry in late 1997 regarding possible property investments in England. A year later Mr Lowry was committing to paying stg£25,000, 10% of the cost of the Mansfield property, as part of an investment that would include other people contributing money. At the same time, Mr Phelan was aiding Denis O’Brien regarding his proposed investment in Doncaster Rovers Football Club.