INDEPENDENT TD and former Fine Gael minister Michael Lowry has condemned recent media coverage and political comment on the findings in relation to himself by the Moriarty tribunal.
In a lengthy statement, he said tribunals issued opinions which had no status in law and he cautioned his media and political critics against “prejudicing my right to due process”.
The former minister for transport, energy and communications said he was addressing “the massive deluge of media coverage and political comment relating to me and the report of the Moriarty tribunal”. He was “greatly troubled” by the level of “reckless and irresponsible” comment and wished to set the record straight.
“I was not declared corrupt by the Moriarty tribunal,” he said, adding that the “presumption of innocence” no longer existed in Ireland.
“The most basic rights of fairness, of procedure and due process have been trampled on mercilessly. Despite never having been charged with or convicted of any crime in Ireland, I have been roundly condemned as a convicted criminal by the media and by various political opportunists.”
Tribunals issued opinions which had no weight or status in law, nevertheless the Moriarty opinions amounted to “a death sentence” on his reputation.
“For technical reasons, the report is as yet untested but I do expect that the Supreme Court will have an opportunity to pronounce on the workings and output of the Moriarty tribunal,” Mr Lowry said. He had “received no payment or benefit from Mr Denis O’Brien in relation to the second mobile phone licence.
“Mr Moriarty has created a false impression in his report that I was the net beneficiary of approximately €900,000 arising from two property transactions and a loan agreement. This is not a truthful or accurate presentation of the facts.
“The tribunal’s report is laden with theories about proposed transactions and intended transactions and reversed transactions.”
No money had accrued to him from transactions referred to in the report, he said, adding that criticism of the Garda for apparently not pursuing its inquiries properly was disingenuous and improper.
“Those crawling over one another to stake a claim to the high moral ground would be well-advised to stop attempting to interfere with the independence of the Director of Public Prosecutions and the gardaí and also stop seriously prejudicing my right to due process.”
He added: “Those baying for blood in the media ought to consider that perhaps those proper legal authorities recognise that the opinions of the Moriarty tribunal are precisely that – opinions.”
Mr Lowry singled out the Sunday Independent for particular criticism over what he described as “some of the most bile-infused and personalised coverage ever seen in Irish media”.
“I find myself being used as a pawn in an obvious campaign designed to somehow disrupt a potential take-over of Independent group,” he said. In contrast, “the common decency and humanity shown to me by the people of Tipperary-south Offaly has sustained me throughout”.
He added: “My representational rights and entitlements are constitutional and equal to that of any member of Dáil Éireann.”
