Moriarty Tribunal lawyers expected to defend McDowell appointment

Lawyers for the Moriarty Tribunal are expected to defend the decision to hire the former Tánaiste Michael McDowell as senior counsel later today.

The High Court yesterday heard the objections of businessmen Denis O'Brien and Dermot Desmond to having Mr McDowell in the job.

Mr O'Brien and Mr Desmond's lawyers claimed that allowing Michael McDowell to cross-examine a tribunal witness gives the appearance of bias.

Mr O'Brien's lawyers said that given Mr McDowell's career in public life as a TD and Attorney General he should not be allowed question Danish mobile phone expert Michael Andersen.

Both want to challenge the decision to hire him and want the High Court to end his involvement in the Dublin Castle hearings.

Mr Justice John Hedigan adjourned the matter until this morning to hear arguments from the tribunal's lawyers.