Lowry kept €34k bonuses meant for staff

MICHAEL LOWRY pocketed £34,500 intended as a Christmas bonus from Dunnes Stores for staff of his refrigeration company, according to a little-publicised finding of the Moriarty Tribunal.

The chairman of the inquiry, Mr Justice Michael Moriarty described this as among the “most reprehensible” of actions carried out the Tipperary North TD, in using money paid to his company, Garuda, for personal benefit.

The payments, ranging from £6,000 to £12,000, were made each year between 1989 and 1992 by Ben Dunne.