O'Brien assured Maloney no payments were made to Lowry

Denis O'Brien assured former Esat chief executive Barry Maloney that no payments were ever made to former Communications Minister Michael Lowry, the Moriarty Tribunal has heard.

Mr Maloney said that he was taken aback when he learned of alleged payments to Mr Lowry in return for Esat gaining the second mobile phone licence.

He told the tribunal of two meetings that took place in 1996 when Mr O'Brien assured him that no such payments had ever taken place.

Mr Maloney added that he could not recall discussing business deals with Mr O'Brien when out running in the Wicklow hills, as both of them were usually gasping for breath.