Michael Lowry attacked in Dáil over 'fake documents' on purchase of English football club

Sinn Féin's Pearse Doherty said Mr Lowry had failed to disclose to the Moriarty Tribunal payments in relation to the purchase of Doncaster Rovers Football Club

Michael Lowry denied to the Moriarty Tribunal he had any role in the purchase of Doncaster Rovers. Picture: Alan Rowlette / RollingNews.ie

Michael Lowry made two payments that were not disclosed to the Moriarty Tribunal and burned documents related to them, the Dáil has been told.

Sinn Féin's Pearse Doherty, speaking under Dáil privilege, said Mr Lowry had not disclosed the two payments related to the circumstances surrounding the purchase of Doncaster Rovers Football Club.

Speaking during his nomination of Mary Lou McDonald as Taoiseach, Mr Doherty said Mr Lowry had meetings in relation to the Doncaster deal, including in the Houses of the Oireachtas, and alleged he had met with others involved in the sale to falsify documents in relation to the transaction.

“To set the record straight about his involvement in the Doncaster deal, the purchase of Doncaster football club funded by Denis O’Brien — a deal the deputy swore he had no part in and wasn’t to benefit from. This was totally false," Mr Doherty alleged.

“Let me put some new information onto the record. Deputy Lowry had 57 meetings in relation to the Doncaster deal — including here in the houses of the Oireachtas — with the organiser of the project and sports representatives. And in the boardroom of Doncaster football club itself.

"Will he explain also, in September and October 2001, why his accountant paid the person putting the Doncaster deal together two bank drafts of £32,500 and £25,000 for his fee. And when he is doing it maybe he will explain why these payments made from an account in Gibraltar — were never disclosed to the tribunal.

"Or will he use his time to explain to this house and the public why he, on 15 March 2001, met with other key individuals in these deals in Dublin. The outcome of that meeting was the creation of a false narrative and fake new documents, fake documents that were given to the tribunal.

Maybe he should explain why he and two others went to a rural farm, in August 2002, to burn the original documents pertaining to these deals. He did so to make sure that the truth would never see the light of day. This information comes directly from one of the other men present.

The details surrounding the club were extensively discussed by the Moriarty Tribunal, with Mr Lowry denying he had any role in the purchase.

The report found Mr Lowry "did not acquire any legal title to Doncaster at any time after the share transfer in August, 1998" but "Mr Lowry did have an involvement in the Doncaster Rovers transaction, which it was intended would entail a payment to, or the conferral of a pecuniary advantage on, Mr Lowry by Mr Denis O’Brien".

It added it was "unable to determine the precise nature of Mr Lowry’s interest in the Doncaster Rovers transaction or the extent to which it was intended that he would benefit from it".

The Sinn Féin finance spokesperson said his information had come from the same person who had previously passed information to Micheál Martin, prompting Mr Martin to call for a reopening of the investigation into Mr Lowry.

Mr Lowry has been contacted for comment.