Mr Michael Lowry was not aware a mobile phone acquired for him by his accountant was procured by the former accountant to Mr Denis O’Brien, the Moriarty tribunal heard today.
In 1997, Mr Aidan Phelan, then accountant for Mr O’Brien, procured a mobile phone for Mr Lowry through his client, MCJ, the largest distributor of mobile phones at the time.
Mr Phelan was acting on the request of Mr Lowry’s accountant, Mr Denis O’Connor.
Mr O’Connor today said while Mr Lowry was not aware he had asked Mr Phelan to get the phone for him, he felt the former Minister would have had "no problem with it". He said he did not feel that approaching Mr Phelan for the phone was a breach of Mr Lowry’s confidence.
When Mr Lowry asked him to get him the mobile phone, Mr O’Connor said he decided to go to Mr Phelan even thought he (Mr O’Connor) also acted for another mobile phone distributor at the time.
Mr Michael Lowry wanted a mobile phone to restrict his number from the media. "He wanted it for confidentiality not anonymity," Mr O’Connor said.
Mr O’Connor said he could not understand why the "free mobile phone" had become such an issue as mobiles phones were being given away three to a penny at the time.