Football club disclosures

THE humble Doncaster Rovers football club in south Yorkshire was swept up in the complex financial transactions involving former minister Michael Lowry and telecoms businessman Denis O’Brien.

It was not until disclosures in early 2003 that the tribunal was made aware of the exact nature of the Doncaster deal. The Irish Times referred to letters from solicitor Christopher Vaughan dating from September 25, 1998, addressed to Mr Lowry at his Thurles home, referring to meetings between the two men that month relating to Doncaster Rovers.

One letter stated: “I had not appreciated your total involvement in the Doncaster Rovers’ transaction...” Previously the tribunal believed the Doncaster deal involved only Denis O’Brien.