Moriarty defends time spent on licence investigation

The Moriarty Tribunal has defended the length of time it has spent conducting a private investigation into the awarding of Ireland’s second mobile phone licence to ESAT Digifone.

Justice Michael Moriarty said today that the latest phase of the tribunal, an investigation into alleged links between former Communications Minister Michael Lowry and former ESAT chairman Denis O’Brien, has been the toughest yet.

A full public inquiry into the licence award is due to begin in October.