It has been reported today that a file has recently been sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) relating to the findings of the Moriarty Tribunal – the payments to politicians inquiry.
People Before Profit TD, Paul Murphy says ”14 years after the Moriarty Tribunal findings were first referred to gardaí for a review, and which led to a criminal investigation, a file has finally been sent to the DPP.
The Moriarty Tribunal found that Michael Lowry had an “insidious and pervasive” influence over the awarding of a valuable mobile phone licence to Denis O’Brien’s Esat Digifone company in the 1990s. A tribunal report found that it was “beyond doubt” that Lowry gave “substantive information” to O’Brien that was “of significant value and assistance to him in securing the licence”.
It also found that O’Brien had made two secret payments to Lowry in 1996 and 1999 which amounted to £500,000, and supported a loan of £420,000 given to Lowry in 1999. The Tribunal found that the O’Brien payments were “demonstrably referable to the acts and conduct of Mr Lowry” during the competition process which benefited Esat Digifone. The payments were sent through a series of offshore bank accounts to an account in Michael Lowry’s name. The tribunal found that Michael Lowry “not only influenced, but delivered the result” of the mobile phone tender process.
As recently as last August, Michael Lowry was interviewed by gardaí from the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) investigating matters related to the tribunal. Yet Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael are now in advanced negotiations with ‘kingmaker’ Michael Lowry, and the rural independent group he heads, to form a new government despite the tribunal finding that Lowry engaged in “cynical and venal abuse of office”. The reality of the anticipated new government could hardly be made clearer. This coalition of wealth and self-serving people will do nothing to address the cost of living, housing and public service crises facing working people”.