A £25,000 cash payment by a UK-based businessman to Mr Michael Lowry for consultancy work was "generous without being excessive", the former minister said yesterday.
Explaining the payment from Mr Bill Maher of Maher Meat Packers in December 1992, Mr Lowry said no amount or method of payment had been agreed. Instead, Mr Maher decided, "unilaterally after the event", to pay the TD £25,000 in cash for his advice on refrigeration projects in Northampton and London.
Mr Lowry said the payment was to cover travel expenses and advice given between 1990 and 1992 and to retain his services for future projects.
While he was "damn glad" to get the payment, Mr Lowry noted: "If Mr Maher rings me at any time in the future in relation to refrigeration and consultancy I would feel obliged to do some work for him free of charge on the basis of what he has already paid me."
Mr Lowry admitted he had got into a lot of difficulties by not issuing invoices for his consultancy work and was "justifiably" criticised in the McCracken report in that regard. Such administrative failures had had "huge repercussions" for him, and as part of putting his business on a sound footing, he had formed Abbeygreen Consulting Ltd, through which all "design" work was channelled.
Established in September 1998, the company has only one bank account, in Thurles. Mr Lowry holds 95 of the company's 100 £1 shares.
Mr Maher has provided a statement to the tribunal but has so far refused to attend to give evidence, counsel for the tribunal, Mr John Coughlan SC, revealed.
