Telenor rep gives evidence at Tribunal

The Moriarty Tribunal has heard an executive with Telenor was told by Denis O'Brien of recommendations by then Communications Minister Michael Lowry.

Mr Lowry is alleged to have suggested that a Dermot Desmond company should financially back the Esat bid for the second mobile phone licence.

The claim has been made by Per Simonsen of Telenor - a group who were also part of the consortium.

The Tribunal heard this afternoon that Denis O'Brien of ESAT and Mr Lowry attended the All-Ireland Football Final in Croke Park in 1995.

They met afterwards for a chat in Houricans pub off Leeson Street in Dublin, where the nature of the Esat application was discussed briefly.

At the time, the Department of Communications expressed concerns about the funding structure in Esat's application.

In subsequent correspondence, Per Simonsen of Telenor in Norway claimed that Denis O'Brien told him that Michael Lowry recommended that Esat get further investment from a company called IIU.

This company was owned by Dermot Desmond.