Statement by Michael Lowry TD:
Regarding the impending publication of the final report of the Moriarty Tribunal of Inquiry
I recently made a request, through my solicitor, to the Moriarty Tribunal to allow me the opportunity at the Tribunal to publicly address all of the evidence given to the Tribunal about the licence process since I last gave my evidence in 2005. It has always been my belief and understanding that I, as the subject person of the Tribunal’s inquiry, would be the last person to give evidence and to address all of the allegations that were made against me. It was my understanding that this was accepted by the Tribunal. However, the Tribunal is now refusing me this right. After eleven years of being investigated by the Moriarty Tribunal, they refuse to allow me time to defend myself in public on the licence process. I am both surprised and disappointed by this response given that I have been forced to endure this highly expensive and personally corrosive examination over this period. You could form the impression that the Moriarty Tribunal is intent on destroying my character, shredding the reputation of the Irish civil servants and damaging the international image of the Irish State. They are attempting to do this in the absence of any real evidence in support of their outlandish theories. There are numerous issues which I have not had the opportunity to address including the evidence of Richard Nesbitt SC, which is material to the awarding of the GSM licence.