Taoiseach calls on Lowry to explain himself

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has claimed his shamed former Cabinet colleague Michael Lowry would quit politics in “an ideal world”.

The Independent TD has defied calls to resign after the Moriarty tribunal found he helped billionaire Denis O’Brien secure the State’s second mobile phone licence in 1995.

But the Taoiseach conceded: “We don’t live in an ideal world.”

Mr Kenny said he wanted Mr Lowry to be forced to answer damning criticisms that he passed on sensitive information during the bid process and that he received more than £800,000 from accounts linked to Mr O’Brien.

“I consider it absolutely essential that Deputy Lowry answer in the House in respect of the allegations and comments made about him in the Moriarty tribunal,” the Taoiseach said.

The mammoth report is being examined by top fraud squad officers, the Revenue Commissioners and Director of Public Prosecutions James Hamilton.

But Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan has warned it is premature to expect criminal charges against anyone singled out for wrongdoing.

The Commissioner said senior gardai would hold talks with the DPP on possible prosecutions.

“It’s not an investigation per se, we are looking and examining the report with a view to establishing whether there are any criminal offences disclosed and obviously we will await that report,” the Commissioner said.

The tribunal also highlighted a $50,000 (€35,000) donation from Norwegian telecoms group Telenor – part of Mr O’Brien’s winning Esat Digifone consortium - to Fine Gael, which was subsequently repaid.

Under the rules of a tribunal of inquiry, none of the evidence given or findings made can be used to directly bring a criminal prosecution.

Judge Moriarty separately accused Mr Lowry of attempting “breathtaking corruption” when he tried to double the rental value of a property owned by businessman Ben Dunne which was leased to the State.

Chief Superintendent Eugene Corcoran, chief officer with the Criminal Assets Bureau, and senior fraud squad officers have been called in to examine the Moriarty report.

The Commissioner added: “Obviously we will be talking with the DPP who has a copy. But as of now it would premature to indicate that an investigation is going to take place in the absence of knowing whether or not there are definitive criminal offences disclosed.”

The Commissioner was in Stormont with Justice Minister Alan Shatter to meet the North'sJustice Minister David Ford and PSNI Chief Constable Matt Baggott.

Mr Shatter refused to comment on whether Mr Lowry should resign his Dáil seat for fear of prejudicing potential prosecutions.

The Fine Gael TD claimed it would be wrong of him to call for the Tipperary TD to quit politics because he holds the justice portfolio.

“It’s a very serious report, because it’s a serious report the Taoiseach rightly made the decision very rapidly to refer it to the Garda Commissioner and to the DPP,” Mr Shatter said.

“I don’t think in my position as Minister for Justice I should make any comment that might in any way prejudice where matters go from here.

“I think it’s appropriate that I take that position particularly in the context of the gardai falling within the justice area.”