The fact that the chairman of the payments-to-politicians tribunal, Mr Justice Moriarty, went to the same school as a tribunal witness, Dr Edmund Farrell, should not pose a problem as to the conduct of the proceedings, the judge concluded yesterday.
Both Dr Farrell and Judge Moriarty attended Blackrock College, a fee-paying school in south Co Dublin.
The chairman addressed the witness directly before he began his evidence yesterday. Mr Justice Moriarty said the context for Dr Farrell's evidence had "only emerged over the last couple of weeks".
He told the witness: "I think I am right in recollecting that you and I were at school together in the dim and distant 1960s in the hands of the Holy Ghost Fathers".
Dr Farrell replied: "Well, I never saw anybody, chairman, who could play soccer as well as Georgie Best or as yourself"
Mr Justice Moriarty: "Well, right. I think we've had no dealings or communications or meetings since those days"
Dr Farrell: "There's absolutely no conflict"
Mr Justice Moriarty: "Yes. It seems to me in a necessarily expanding and unfolding tribunal such as this some such form of incidental contact is inevitable. I don't see a difficulty as regards the tribunal, and I may take it you're of the same view?"
Dr Farrell: "Absolutely."
Dr Farrell added that his daughter was "a great admirer" of the work of Judge Moriarty's wife, Ms Mary Irvine SC.
On completing his evidence he told the chairman that it was nice to see him again.
