THE TRIBUNAL has begun questioning English solicitor Christopher Vaughan about a transaction involving Doncaster Rovers Football Club Ltd.
The company, which has a lease on a football ground in Doncaster, was purchased in August 1998 for £4.3 million. Denis O’Brien has said he bought the company and that the deal did not involve Mr Lowry. Mr Lowry has said he had no involvement in the deal.
The purchase was handled by Mr Vaughan as solicitor and the deal involved Northern Ireland land agent Kevin Phelan. Mr Vaughan told the tribunal in April a letter he wrote in September 1998 to Mr Lowry which referred to Mr Lowry’s “total involvement” in the deal was a mistake.
One of the letters given to the tribunal this week concerns the deals in Cheadle and Mansfield but also refers briefly to “DRFC”.
The letter, to Aidan Phelan from Mr Vaughan and dated Tuesday, September 19th, 2000, refers to a meeting held at the weekend involving the two Phelans. After the reference DRFC, the letter reads: “Kevin said that this had been discussed and did not enlarge further.” A manuscript note at the end of the letter reads: “Meeting 16th September 2000 KP/AP/ML 12.30.”