O’Brien rebukes minister over criticism

Billionaire businessman Denis O’Brien wrote a strongly-worded critical and cynical letter to Lucinda Creighton complaining about the European affairs minister’s disapproval of his appearance at the global economic forum.

Mr O’Brien attacked tribunals, suggested Ms Creighton was “uncomfortable” with him creating thousands of jobs, and reminded her of the “constitutional right to one’s good name and reputation”.

He said he also noted Ms Creighton’s own comments that it was “important not to turn your back on my contribution”.

The letter by Mr O’Brien, who holds 29.9% of Independent News & Media, Ireland’s largest media group, raises awkward questions for Taoiseach Enda Kenny and his party’s association with the billionaire ahead of today’s parliamentary party meeting.

Labour has made clear its unease about Government members interacting with Mr O’Brien, but Mr Kenny has refused to rule out Mr O’Brien being invited to future Government events.

The two-page letter was sent by Mr O’Brien to the Fine Gael TD on Mar 28, two days after Ms Creighton publicly said she was not comfortable with his attendance at Dublin’s global economic forum — held the previous October — and would not be in future.

The letter was obtained by the Irish Examiner under freedom of information laws.

Ms Creighton had said she hoped that Mr O’Brien would not be invited again “because of the findings of the Moriarty Tribunal”. It found former Fine Gael minister Michael Lowry received £447,000 from Mr O’Brien, who later won the State’s second mobile phone licence.

Ms Creighton made the remarks after Mr O’Brien appeared at a St Patrick’s Day ceremony at the New York Stock Exchange, where he was photographed with Taoiseach Enda Kenny.

Mr O’Brien, in his letter, says he rejects Moriarty’s findings. He says he did not make any payment to Mr Lowry and that Esat Digifone won the licence because it submitted the best bid.

He tells Ms Creighton: “Regrettable and wrongly, tribunals do not have to burden themselves with facts at all. It is those facts about the actual sworn evidence given to the tribunal which are, as you put it, ‘brushed under the carpet’.”

He goes on to criticise Ms Creighton’s opinion: “Tribunals are not even part of the administration of justice in Ireland. This latter statement is ironic, however; particularly when one considers the sort of summary justice you and others see fit to dispense in terms of my personal and professional reputation.”

* Read more and see the letter:

here