The content of a letter concerning dealings in the UK in the late 1990s involving businessman Denis O’Brien and former government minister Michael Lowry is “wholly at variance” with evidence that has been given to the tribunal about the transactions, the Moriarty tribunal heard today.
The tribunal was told by one of its barristers, John Coughlan SC, that the letter dated March 8th 2002, dealt with property dealings in Doncaster, Cheadle and Mansfield. The tribunal has been investigating whether the dealings involved any benefit being conferred to Mr Lowry by Mr O'Brien.
The letter was among three letters given to the tribunal in June of this year by A&L Goodbody on behalf of Aidan Phelan, an accountant who worked for Mr O'Brien in the late 1990s.
The tribunal was told the letters had not been given to the tribunal before this as Mr Phelan had felt they involved a "vexatious" matter raised by a Northern Ireland businessman, and were not relevant to the tribunal's inquiries.
The letters concern correspondence with solicitors acting for Kevin Phelan, an Omagh-based land agent who was involved in the property transactions. Kevin Phelan has not responded to tribunal requests that he give evidence.
The March letter sets out a narrative of the three property transactions but Mr Coughlan said he would not read out the narrative until the tribunal was about to hear evidence on the matter.
The tribunal heard that Aidan Phelan was requested to attend the tribunal today but had told the tribunal he is abroad and will not be able to attend the tribunal until July 31st next at the earliest. It is expected that other persons may also be recalled to give evidence on the matter.
Mr O'Brien and Mr Lowry have told the tribunal they have no recall or record of receiving the March letter from Mr Kevin Phelan's solicitors.
Also today the tribunal heard evidence from the wife of the late businessman, David Austin. Maureen Austin said her late husband sold a house in Spain to Mr O'Brien in 1996 for £150,000 though she did not have any direct involvement.
The tribunal is investigating whether a payment of that amount from Mr O’Brien, may have involved an attempt to confer a financial benefit on Mr Lowry.
