Politician has had longstanding partnership with developer

Michael Lowry’s land holding in Wigan has shed light on his contacts with some of his longstanding associates in north Tipperary and the horse racing industry.

The 25-acre property, on the outskirts of Wigan, is half owned by Liam Carroll, 59, of Clongur, Thurles. Mr Carroll ran a haulage and refrigerated shipping business in the Tipperary town until it went into liquidation in Aug 2010 with the loss of more than 100 jobs.

In Dec 2006 he had been appointed by former minister Mary Hanafin, who is also from Thurles, to serve as chairman of the Tipperary Institute.