The non-executive chairman of Esat Digifone has told the Moriarty tribunal that Esat founder Mr Denis O'Brien told him about a payment of £100,000 to Mr Michael Lowry in 1996. He also agreed that the alleged payment could have been "corrupt".
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Mr Barry Maloney said Mr O'Brien told him about the alleged payment in Mr O'Brien's office in the Malt House in Dublin between October and November of that year. Mr Lowry was the Minister for Communications at the time.
Mr Maloney has made the claim in a previous statement to the tribunal.
He told the tribunal this morning the payment issue arose while the two were discussing success fees. Mr Maloney said there had been some difficulty in paying success fees to people, including former government press secretary Mr PJ Mara, as there was no paperwork to back them up.
Mr Maloney said Mr O'Brien told him: "you think you have problems - I've had to make two payments of £100,000", one of which was to Michael Lowry.
Mr Maloney said the other payment was to an unidentified person.
In evidence previously heard by the tribunal Mr O'Brien said the conversation did not take place in the Malt House in Dublin, but instead took place while on a jogging run in Roundwood, Co Wicklow.
Mr O'Brien also said that he made the £100,000 comment in bravado and as a joke in an effort to get Mr Maloney to pay the success fees. Mr Maloney was joint CEO of Esat Digifone at the time.
Mr Maloney today agreed with counsel for the tribunal Mr Gerry Healy SC that he regarded the alleged payment to Mr Lowry as improper and agreed that it could have been a corrupt payment.